In the lush tea gardens of India, a tranquil haven of serenity, women have long been the pillars of the industry, toiling tirelessly to bring forth the perfect blend of flavor and aroma. Luxmi Tea, a beacon of hope and empowerment, has taken bold strides to bring women leaders to the forefront, shattering 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 working in our company - the woman plucker, 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 most positions of power so that down the line, exploitation and abuse can cease and be dealt with effectively. It is our goal in 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 estate in Darjeeling, Luxmi Tea has woven a tapestry of inclusivity, where women representatives in tea estates and higher management, such as sardars (labor leaders), female assistant managers, and directors, converge to initiate awareness sessions and outreach activities.
The company, formed in 1912 as an Indian movement for self-reliance when the tea industry was predominantly British, presently has 25 tea estates, 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 secure environment, a move that resonates with the broader need for accountability and safety in the traditionally male-dominated tea industry,” the release stated.
A recent study on the workplace safety of women in the tea gardens of north Bengal has pointed to the deep-rooted problems faced by women, who form the majority of tea estate workers, The Telegraph has reported.
According to the study, "Creating Safe Workplaces: An Engagement with Tea Gardens in West Bengal," conducted by Sanhita, a gender resource center based in Kolkata, across 24 tea estates in Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar and Darjeeling districts, the large number of women employed as tea pluckers are particularly vulnerable in the gardens as they work at the lower levels of the hierarchy.
The prevalence or threat of sexual harassment was always present, but when the tea garden women workers spoke about it, many of them did not identify it as sexual harassment, having accepted it as normal, the report stated.
However, it is altogether a different picture at the tea estates of Luxmi.
Since 2018, the company in association with Trustea have been actively working towards spreading awareness on revention of sexual harassment (POSH). The company release stated that it promotes a culture of transparency and openness to encourage reporting of any such instance and follow a zero tolerance stance for any type of sexual conduct.
The company constituted an Internal Committee (IC) at all its administrative offices and units in 2023. The IC consists of a presiding officer, company secretary, male member, female member, and an external member. Female assistant managers and senior female staff at garden levels are part of the committee.
This multi-tiered approach ensures that even in remote tea gardens, employees have access to the necessary resources to report harassment safely. “The structure is designed to empower women at the grassroots level, ensuring that their voices are heard and respected,” a company official said.
The POSH team conducts quarterly IC meetings to discuss and deliberate on best practices and important points of relevance in order to remain effective and up-to-date with the current legal advancements.
As a testament to their unwavering 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 meetings and awareness sessions were conducted in Assam, while West Bengal and Tripura gardens followed suit with 26.
Monumoti Kalindi, Lady Sardar (labour leader), who is also a member of the POSH Committee at Moran TE in Assam, said that in her position she was accountable for supervising both female and male workers assigned to her and also for running production smoothly.
“The company is against any biases and gender discrimination, and believes in equality amongst all engaged in the garden. My involvement in the garden welfare initiatives has helped me gain more confidence and added more dimensions to my overall role,” she said.
Within the tea gardens, a robust framework ensures that complaints are escalated swiftly and transparently, with the garden POSH sub-committee or Lady Sardar serving 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 well-being of the workforce. “I am part of various community development initiatives of the group and supervise them,” she said.
Sandhya Chettri, a female plucker at Makaibari tea estate, said that she has been regularly participating in awareness sessions and events conducted in gardens as part of the community development initiatives. “As a result, I am more aware of my rights and feel empowered. This has helped me in educating my child as well,” she said.
Atoli Achumi, senior assistant manager, Narayanpur TE, said, “In my long tenure of 12 years with Luxmi Tea, I have been involving myself in various productional and administrative roles of the company. The company follows a zero-tolerance policy against any discrimination and harassment and has been taking steps continuously to employ more women in our gardens across region.’’
Priyakshi Dehengia, assistant manager, Shyamguri Tea Estate, stated that working with Luxmi Tea has been an enriching experience, particularly due to the company’s unwavering 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 enhances workplace dynamics but also positively impacts the broader community,” she said.
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