Abstract:

The tea gardens of Upper Assam have shaped the region's economy for nearly two centuries, yet the descendants of the labourers who sustained them remain among the most marginalised groups in the state. This paper examines how the political mobilisation of the tea tribes, often called Adivasis in public debate, has influenced socio-economic development in Sivasagar and Charaideo districts. The study follows a qualitative, descriptive-analytical design and draws on secondary sources: scholarly literature, parliamentary records, electoral data and press reports up to mid-2026. It traces the communities' movement from a dependable vote bank to an organised claimant of Scheduled Tribe status, higher wages and land rights. The paper argues that political attention has grown sharply but has produced mainly symbolic and episodic gains, while deficits in wages, health, education and land security persist. It also shows that in Sivasagar and Charaideo, the demand for Scheduled Tribe status is tied to the parallel claims of the Ahom, Moran, Motok and Chutia communities, which makes local politics both cooperative and competitive. The paper concludes that recognition without redistribution is unlikely to change the lives of tea garden households, and it suggests a combined approach of wage reform, secure land titles, investment in health and education, and inclusive dialogue among indigenous and tea garden communities.

This study is a part of a PhD study being undertaken in Auniati University, Kaliapani, Teok, Jorhat, Assam. The Author being the Research Scholar and Research Supervisor respectively.

Keywords:

Tea tribes, Adivasi, Scheduled Tribe status, Identity politics, Upper Assam, Sivasagar, Charaideo, Socio-economic development

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