Luxmi Tea seems to improve the condition of women in tea

In India’s lush tea gardens, an oasis of tranquility, women have long been the mainstays of the industry, toiling tirelessly to bring out the perfect blend of flavor and aroma. A beacon of hope and empowerment, Luxmi Tea has taken bold steps to bring women leaders to the forefront, breaking the glass ceiling that once hindered their ascent.

Lakshmi or Luxmi is the Hindu goddess of wealth, fortune and beauty.

“For us, ‘Luxmi’ represents the woman who works in our company – the woman picker, the manager and the salesperson,” said Managing Director Rudra Chatterjee. “Our mission is to create a workspace that encourages women to take leadership and encourages women to occupy the most positions of power, so that exploitation and abuse can eventually stop and be effectively tackled. It is our goal across all Indian and African estates, and the board has undertaken policies to implement this transformation.”

With estates in Assam, Tripura and West Bengal, including the majestic Makaibari Tea Plantation in Darjeeling, Luxmi Tea has woven a tapestry of inclusivity, where female representatives in tea estates and senior management, such as sardars (union leaders), female assistant managers, and directors come together to initiate awareness sessions and outreach activities.

Founded in 1912 as an Indian movement for self-reliance when the tea industry was predominantly British, the company currently has 25 tea plantations, including three in Rwanda. The Makaibari factory is the first tea factory in the world.

A company release stated that the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act 2013 (POSH) has been the cornerstone of Luxmi Group’s commitment to creating a safe and inclusive workplace. “The company has taken concrete steps to create a safe environment, a step that resonates with the broader need for responsibility and safety in the traditionally male-dominated tea industry,” the press release said.

A recent study on the workplace safety of women in North Bengal’s tea gardens has highlighted the deep-rooted problems faced by women, who form the majority of tea estate workers, The Telegraph reports.

According to the study ‘Creating Safe Workplaces: An Engagement with Tea Gardens in West Bengal’, conducted by Sanhita, a gender resource center based in Calcutta, spread across 24 tea estates in Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar and Darjeeling districts, the large number of working women as tea pickers is particularly are vulnerable in the gardens because they work at the lower levels of the hierarchy.

The prevalence or threat of sexual harassment was always present, but when the women workers in the tea garden talked about it, many of them did not identify it as sexual harassment as they had accepted it as normal, the report said.

However, it is a completely different picture on the tea plantations of Luxmi.

Since 2018, the company, in collaboration with Trustea, has been actively working to raise awareness about the prevention of sexual harassment (POSH). The company’s press release stated that it promotes a culture of transparency and openness to encourage the reporting of such cases and follow a zero-tolerance policy for any type of sexual behavior.

The company has established an Internal Committee (IC) at all its administrative offices and units in 2023. The IC consists of a chairman, a company secretary, a male member, a female member and an external member. Female assistant managers and female garden-level senior staff are part of the committee.

This layered approach ensures that even in remote tea gardens, employees have access to the necessary tools to safely report harassment. “The structure is designed to empower women at the grassroots level and ensure their voices are heard and respected,” a company official said.

The POSH team holds quarterly IC meetings to discuss and deliberate on best practices and key relevant points to stay effective and abreast of current legal developments.

As a testament to their continued dedication, not a single case of sexual harassment has been reported, a shining beacon of hope in an industry once marred by exploitation and harassment. In 2023, 42 rallies and awareness sessions were held in Assam, while West Bengal and Tripura gardens followed suit with 26.

Monumoti Kalindi, Lady Sardar (union leader), who is also a member of the POSH Committee of Moran TE in Assam, said that in her position she was responsible for supervising both the female and male employees assigned to her and also for ensuring production runs smoothly.

“The company is against all prejudice and gender discrimination and believes in equality between everyone involved in the garden. My involvement in the garden wellness initiatives has helped me gain confidence and added more dimensions to my overall role,” she said.

Within the tea gardens, a robust framework ensures that complaints are escalated quickly and transparently, with the garden’s POSH sub-committee or Lady Sardar acting as the first point of contact.

Meena Tamang supervisor Makaibari TE in Darjeeling says that as a supervisor she was involved in both the operational aspects of the company and the welfare of the employees. “I am part of and oversee several community development initiatives of the group,” she said.

Sandhya Chettri, a woman picker at Makaibari tea estate, said she has regularly participated in awareness sessions and events in gardens as part of community development initiatives. “The result is that I am more aware of my rights and feel stronger. This has also helped me in raising my child,” she said.

Atoli Achumi, Senior Assistant Manager, Narayanpur TE, said, “During my long tenure of 12 years at Luxmi Tea, I have involved myself in various production and administrative roles of the company. The company has a zero-tolerance policy against discrimination and harassment and is continually taking steps to employ more women in our gardens across the region.”

Priyakshi Dehengia, Assistant Manager of Shyamguri Tea Estate, stated that working with Luxmi Tea has been an enriching experience, especially because of the company’s continued commitment to empowering women.

“Through their various initiatives, including leadership training and community development programs, Luxmi Tea not only elevates the professional capabilities of women, but also fosters an environment where their contributions are recognized and valued. This holistic approach not only improves workplace dynamics but also has a positive impact on the wider community,” she said.

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