INTRODUCTION

The foothills of the covering the districts of Darjeeling and of have come to occupy a significant position in the tea map of . The tea growing areas of the district of Jalpaiguri is popularly known as . The present revenue district of Jalpaiguri was formed on 1st January 1869 by the amalgamation of Western Do oars district and Jalpaiguri subdivision of Rang pur district. The district has a district ecological setting. The avarage annual rainfall is more than 30cm but bulk of it i.e. about 90% is received between April and September. Having administrative head quarters the district has a fairly good communication network with the rest of North East India.

The study area comprises and, police stations of in \!Vest Bengal of India. (Fig;_1). -lfis als'lflfes irl" the Hirr1alay~m foothills that is the lap of the Butan Himalaya.(Fig- 2). There are twenty four teagardens in Banarhat policestations and.fifteen teagardens in Nagrakata police station in 1981 census. (Fig 1.3). In 1991 census the Jaldhaka teagarden is located in Banarhat police station.

The study area bounded by Bhutan on the north police station on Easf', -".-­ Police station on the south and Moynaguri and Mettially Polici stations on , the West. '

The geographical location of the district is from 26°40'N to 27°00' North and 88°49' E to 89°06' East. (Fig. 3).

The teagardens covered 36% of the total area and shares nearly 58% of the total population of the study area. The population of the study area is spread over in two police stations with rural ubban break up. The study area has only one town namely Gairakata(N.M.) and its population in 5955, it is in Banarhat Police station. ·The Banarhat police stations has an area of399 km and population of 179685(census 1991) and the Nagrakata Police station has an area of 284 km and population of 81 ,·364. (Census, 1991).

The tea industry is a large agrobased and labour intensive industry. It largely depends on manual labour than technological inputs. Crop gwoth and production depend on the interaction of a biological system which is the planta more often a I population of plants and the physical environment in which the plant grows. The total growth and production are in fact derived from the environment through the special mechanism and properties possessed by the biological system. (William and Joseph 1976). [xvi] LOCATION MAP [INDIA I

POLl Cc:"" STATION(P.S.)

A 1. RAJGANJ $I 2- MAL LPAIGURI 01 ST • I 3·4s.MAVNAGuR~ MITIAllJALPAIGURI

J 6·NAGRAKAT, ,."\ 8 " lJ T A N 78.DHUBGU . BAN ARHAT Rl "\~\"'~\.. \~ ~/\ ...... ,....(~· •• g.BIRPARA Q\c:, ) ~ ./ \ 4 .•6 W ·-'"'1"'--..__...... Q.FALAKAT".T . ( 2 / 11. MADARIH Q \l'- ~ (.~-- ·--..( 2 ~ ~-~'-·---"r 9 ('-J ( . ·"-'"\..~ 12. KALCH IN I . \. I J . ~ . ( 11 I 12 \.. '"' 3.KUMARGRAM _.:>( 1 s\l. ~· . . '8l/'v''/..,·\ 10 {/ • .-J/~.} · · . ·!'! I 13 5~), 14.· ~ i \.... _/ '-. B ·-, ) . '\..~/ · , ., • j \ 5 ·..l.. \ 14 \ .• ( . '-· ~ ( ~.f---r ·~ ...~...... "'.~"'-.) ;,...l C 0 C H B I H V'v·.r ..,8 "."\_. (13 . ( . c T A R ..q1- '"t. '<.....Y t· 1 R I G'(..q() l • ~- D I 5 ~& ~- ~ e,JJ

Study Area

District Boundary

Pol1ce. s tation Boundary

Fig. 1 ·· LOCATIONJ~UID~~~~~~~~~I~T~S~S~U~BB~O~U~N=D~IN(G~S MAP -OF SIUDY AREA _AND 'Cow M A 2,·,o·~ I

~...J \ . ul

a: <{ 0 .... u

12 18 Krn 5 6~~0~~6~~- s C A L E

1. Nagrakata 2.. Binaguri "3 . Kolimpang l •. Jalpaig~ri s. Siligur1 I'Jagrakala P.s·[ I 6. Banarnat I. Banarhat P.s . . Fig. 11 . LOCATION OF TEA GARDENS OF BANARHAT AND NAGRAKATA

P. S. Bonorhot Nomr of the Teo garden 1. Ambori w 2. Bonorhot 3. Binoguri 4 - Chomur chi Jl 5- Chunobhoti ~ 6 . Drbporo vr- l'· ~ 7. Diona DIS"t . ELING • ' 11 .'\ 8 · Go ir koto ~~j -1 .1 9. Grndroporo ·r . f---9------j· --s­ 10-Nrw Dooars 11 . Holdibori j \~~; --~ --- ~ --j T 12 .1\olobor i 13. Korbolo ~ \ .. ~ 15 I '·- v /·~ 14. Ko t hotguri / . I ~~/ ) ( I., • I \, _-

) 1 . t-\ L- 1 9 I 2 / 13 oot 4. Chengmori - · /1 { r"' / 124 }. I I } . ~ 5· / I I 1 \ 1 - Dhoronipur / 1 1 .l. / 1 . ,--/ I "';, I I y.- -~------. ·- .\...-.-. r /" I 1 1 1 18 L, 1 7 oot 6· Ghotio 2 1 1 1 17 1 r \ /" '---1 1 1 1 1 a. 7. Grossmor• • I -~ I j ' /.o \ / ( 1! - - t, / 1-, ----rJ 1 llc 8 . Hilla 3 ·.s ) I 1 .). 'J I i 9 . Hope 1 1 1-.., i...'- \,, (. 1 11 ---/'1, '· Ill 10 · Joldhoko Altodongo 1 1 1 ;.. "\ ' 1 P. S.BANARHAT I / I f vi 11 - Jiti 1-- . ) )'-.1 [ ( '---) a: 12 . Kurt i .., V "-110 / . 1---.J, ~ 13 · Lookson G' I ' . I 1 23 ) 14 . Nogrokoto 1 C.. ·~"(.- . /"~ _ ) t------j.- . -~ 15 . Noyosoyl ee i) . . ( , . ..._-../'-..J' I B I . .... / ! l / \ ~ \ / ~ - ...r · / ':i ..,*""' / ?. ..__ ....._ rl 15 ~ . I ,,_) · Q " . . ...) l I \ 4.'1" -·- INTERNATIONAL P. S. D (_) {. \ ). BOUNDARY H ...,.., \ U P G U R I ...... "\.-10 DISTRICT BOUNDARY 26' 40'N -·- P.S. BOUNDARY 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 Kms !.'1----.., TEA GARDEN /VILLAGE I SOURCE : Census 1981 I . BOUNDARY . ~ 01 SCALE "'

Fig . Ill The dimensions of the development of the teagardens and tea industry must be related to maintaining a balance between physical and economical environments of the area .

THE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR INDIA

Tea industry requires creation of strong and healthy production base to meet the demand for rapidly rising internal consumption commensurate with the increase in population and per capita consumption as well as the demand for export. So , to have a bright future of tea the cloax of complacency must be stripped off and harder work must be down with extra alertness for a very prosperous era of Tea.

OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The main objectives of the study are :

(i) To study the physical aspects like geology, relief, drainage, climate, soil and vegetation of the Nagrakata and Banarhat Police Stations and their interrelation for assessing the major problems like flood, drought, siltation soil erosion and diposition and its effects in tea plantations.

(ii) To study the history of tea cultivation and back ground of the tea garden.

(iii) To study the landuse pattern ofteagarden and to study the growth and development of tea gardens and tea industry.

(iv) To study the processing, marketing of tea industry and its consumption to the national and International market.

(v) To evaluate the demographic set up like distribution of population, literacy rate and occupational pattern of the people, which are greatly attributed to the tea plantation as it is large agrobased and labour intensive industry. It largely depends on manual labour than technological input.

(vi) To study the availability and accessibility of the existing socio-economic functions like education, health, marketing electricity, water supply etc. which contribute much for the all round development of tea industry.

(vii) To identify the problems and associated constrains in teagardens and tea industry.

(viii) And finally to suggested a strategy for the development of teagardens and tea industry and the socio-economic conditions of the people.

[xvii] SCOPE AND PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The tea industry is one of the organised industries in India. There are two main tea growin areas :

(i) The Southern States like Tamilnadu, Kerala and Karnataka and (ii) The North Eastern states like Sikkim, Assam and West Bengal.

The pattern of ownership and management of tea plantation varies from the smaller privately owned Estates to the larger Agency Houses. The later in particular are efficiently run and have the organised and trained management to properly carry out whatever programmes of activities they under take.

Plantation by their very nature are situated in remote and hilly areas. They are comparatively isolated and far from the amenities which cities provide with the

result that each is a relatively closed, self contained c ommu n i~ y with a strongly institutional and social structures.

Most of the tea gardens workers are decendents of immigrants from other parts of the country and reside on the plantation in which they work and where their children would eventually seek employment. The plantation workers for their dependents seldom leave the tea-gardens life. Rapid population growth has been a major socio-economic problem to the community and Tea Estate managements.

The quality and quantity of production depends on several geoclimatic and management factors. But man has no control over nature. So the natural calamities like floods and draugfht are the main cause of low productivity.

The main problem of the tea industry in India as also in other producing countries is the uncertainty of the price level which is determined mostly by the demand and supply positio. Unlike other commodities, tea producers are unable to fix the price tag on their product nor are they in a position to pass on incremental costs and levies to the consumers. Consequently periodic slumps in tea prises tend to threaten the viability and even the very existence of tea industry from time to time. Major slumps have occurred in the past owing to over supply and increased stock of the commodity in international market.

Now most of the tea gardens and tea gardens and tea industry of the area studied are facing such problems.

The study will cover all aspects of problems and formulate a strategy for

[xviii] development not only for the tea gardens and tea industry but also for the people associated with this industry in North Bengal.

METHODOLOGY

(i) In view of the absence of most of the date for the micro level study, extensive questionnaires have been made to cover different aspects of the study area . The questionnaire are divided into two parts. The first part comprises through a pilot survey of total 39 teagarden from Banarhat and Nagrakata police stations. The Questionnaire is related to all aspects of individual tea garden. No specific sample technic was adopted regarding data collection . The second part comprises of workers socio-economic func!lon . Extensive fieid work was conducted teagarden wise. Interview was conducted with the worker and the local people separately to get information about the teagarden.Most of the field works was conducted during March 1993 to December 1995.

(ii) Data and information were also collected from secondary sources such as reports of the Indian Tea Planters Association (ITPA) and Dooars Branch Indian Tea Association (D.B.I.T.A), Tea Boasrd, Tea Association of lnd!a, Tea Research Association , (TRA) Nagrakata, Dhupguri and Nagrakata B. D.O. office, census 1951 , '61, '71 , '81 , and 1991 .

(iii) Information and literature have also been collected from different libraries, journals, and personal experiences.

(iv) Soil fertility and land capability were determind by the method of so il sampling and soil testing in the T.R.A. Laboratory.

(v) Available data were computed by scientific calculator and computer and the results have been analysed for obtaining the explanation and conclusion .

(vi) Maps and models have been drawn using different cartographic techniques and computer to illustrate the data and information in maps and diagrams.

(vii) Lastly photographs were taken to pin point the different stages of tea plantation and tea industry and to identity the problems like physical, demographic, socio-economic condition associated with tea industry.

REVIEW OF PREVIOUS LITERATURES

There have been several studies of various aspects of tea industry. These are mainly on tea bush culture and financial management. A few studies particularly

[xix] dealt with geographical aspects and labour relationships. A brief review of those studies are made below.

Sir Percival Griffith (1967) in his book "History of the tea Industry in India " describe vividly the history of Indian tea industry and its different asepcts like production labour recruitment ownership etc. He also tells about the origin of trade union movements in some areas. This book is one of the most authentic books regarding the history of tea industry in India .

Tushar Kanti Ghosh in his Book 1987 " The tea garden of West Bengal "contain history of tea plantation of West Bengal" The land management policies rules, regulations etc. and the problem existing there in . It also studies land management in sick gardens and the existence of dual economy.

Manas Oasgupta (1988) in his article 'Trade union movement in tea plantation is of course a pioneer in this field. But it has some limitations.

Sharit Bowmik in his Book (1981) 'Class formation in plantation system' is a unique and fine analysis of different aspects of class formation and its relation to class conciousness. The system of plantation has changed their traditional economy. 'Life and labour of plantation Women Workers' which was investigated by Mita Bhadra shows that ideas, values, awarness concerning status are a functions of educational cultural back ground.

Kanchan Sarkar has discussed the trade union movement in tea industry in different periods. But the study does not provide the reaction of employer with the growth of trade union movement in tea industry. Moreover the study does not present the trends of conflict in tea industry.

Bedprakash SyamR.oy llas discussed about problems of tea industry in Darjeeling hill areas with special reference to its sickness since independence. This study does not present the geographical factors reponsible for its sickness.

The above studies mentioned earlier on different aspects of tea plantation were highly informative and necessary. But none of them was made on the physical problem of tea plantation and as well as the social and cultural problems of labourers.

This study will cover all aspects of problems and formulate a strategy fo r development, not only for the teagardens and tea industry, but also the people associated with this industry in North Bengal.

[xx] CONSTRAINTS OF STUDY

There are limitations of data and information available are mostly unreliable. Data from census operation teagarden wise reveals contrasting figure of areas and population of the teagardens also. Data of location of tea gardens also reveal contrasting. Census gives a gross inadequacy of data for research work. As no one worked in the study area so the area is virgin and most of the work which has been mentioned earlier are the results of on the spot survey and personal experiences of the investigator.

DESIGN OF THE THESIS

The whole work commences with, the identification of the location of the tea industry of Jalpaiguri District and giving the Review of Literatures, purpose, objectives and methodology adopted for the study.

Then the work commences with the fi rst chapter which deals with the physical background of the study area. As tea is a agrobased industry the physical component such as geology, relief, Drainage, climate socii and vegetation are very important for tea cultivation. This chapter deals with all physical aspects of the study area.

The second chapter deals with the history of tea gardens and tea industries of West Bengal as well as India. This chapter also deals with the management of different ages of bushes. Such as management of young tea, mature tea and others. History of labour participation and migration also discussed in this chapter.

The third chapter deals with the different types of land use pattern in the tea gardens of the study area. The pattern of land use in tea is different from the other rural land use pattern of West BengaL

The fourth chapter deals with the different types of tea processing methods such as Orthodox, C.T.C. Oolang tea and green tea and its production in the study area. This chapter also analyse cost of production, methods of marketing etc.

The fifth chapter deals with the demographic characteristics of the study area i.e. the population and their growth, compositions, workers participation in the tea garden, different types of Religion level of education and Age-sex structure of labourers.

The sixth chapter deals with the availability of socio-economic anemities of the worker. Workers income, dependants, wages, are also discussed in this chapter.

The seventh chapter deals wrth the interaction between people and [xxi] environment, that is the garden and working situation, the factory and working situation and lastly the worker forum for voxpopuli.

The eighth chapter deals with the identification of the general problem regarding tea gardens and tea industry. The problems ca be divided into four types. Physical problems mainly deals with flood , droughts and insectisides. Social and economical problems deals with the worker individual life land management and other management problems are rising day by day.

The ninth chapter deals with the review of earlier, strategies introduced in the tea industry and its implementation in the studied tea gardens. This chapter also discussed with the role of different Tea organisations in the development of tea gardens and tea industry after independence.

And finally the tenth chapter comprises of the problem based development strategies, suggestions and conclusions.

[xxii]