International Tea Day

Tea still remains the worlds’ most popular drink, even after 100 years of being in the Global Market. However, it is unfortunate to note that those involved in the production of tea have been riddled with various problems. The majority of the tea plantation workers have been deprived of even the most basic human rights and facilities; such as clean water, housing, sanitation and education.

 On the other hand, workings of the World Market too have betrayed the tea plantation worker. With the gap between the commodity price and consumer price winding, especially the small tea growers face difficulties in selling their raw materials at a price which would cover the cost of production. This has resulted in dissolving tea small growers, who contribute considerably in the generation of national revenue and employment.  

The tea plantation trade unions and NGOs dealing with issues of tea plantation workers and small growers in tea producing countries, propose the 15^th of December as the International Tea Day, at the Tea Conference held during the World Social Forum held in Porto Allegre, Brazil, in January 2005. Taking a stand to affirm the rights of the plantation worker and small grower, building awareness and responsiveness among coordinated bodies, identifying responsible policy decisions, and strengthening advocacy and campaigns are few of the targets expected to achieve by the declaration of the International Tea Day.  Hence, this declaration can be considered as an important milestone in the process of empowering and liberating the marginalized Tea Plantation Workers.