International Journal of Social Science Research (IJSSR)

Child Labour among the Tea Workers of Alipurduar District of West Bengal: Causes, Consequences and Policy Implications

Child labour continues to remain embedded within India’s plantation economy despite constitutional guarantees and statutory prohibitions. This study investigates the causes, consequences and policy implications of child labour in the tea plantations of Alipurduar district in West Bengal. Employing a mixed-method research design, the study draws upon primary data collected through field surveys, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and participant observation involving child workers, their families, plantation management authorities and institutional stakeholders. The findings indicate that the persistence of child labour in Alipurduar’s tea plantations is primarily driven by chronic household poverty, low and irregular adult wages, limited access to quality education and the socio-economic marginalization of Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste communities. Children are commonly engaged in tea plucking and auxiliary plantation-related activities, exposing them to physical exhaustion, health risks and long-term educational deprivation. The research further identifies a significant gap between existing legal provisions, including child labour prohibition laws and welfare schemes and their implementation at the grassroots level. Weak monitoring systems, poor institutional coordination and limited community awareness continue to exacerbate the problem. The paper argues that policy responses must move beyond legal prohibition and directly address the structural economic vulnerabilities faced by tea worker households. Strengthening livelihood security, expanding education-based rehabilitation measures, increasing NGO involvement and ensuring greater accountability of plantation management are critical to eliminating child labour and protecting children’s rights within the tea plantation sector.