Action Plan Meeting of Cha-Sramik Nari Mancha
The members of Cha Sramik Nari Mancha, a platform of women tea-garden workers patronized by ECDO, have once again demonstrated their growing leadership, unity, and commitment to community development through a quarterly action planning meeting held on 12 June 2026 at Hiluachhara Tea Garden.
Formed on 1 August 2025 with 72 women tea workers, Cha Sramik Nari Mancha has emerged as a vibrant community platform where women identify challenges, dream collectively, and take action to improve their lives and communities. With the inspiration of ECDO, the platform has been formed and now developing and implementing its own dream-based action plans, enabling women tea workers to become active agents of change.
One of the most remarkable aspects of the recent meeting was the dedication shown by the members. Although the meeting was scheduled on their weekly holiday, many tea workers chose to attend despite the ongoing peak tea-plucking season, when workers often engage in overtime work to earn additional income. Recognizing the importance of the meeting and their shared goals, the members successfully negotiated with tea-garden authorities and prioritized their participation in the pre-scheduled gathering.
The platform has already achieved several notable successes. Earlier this year, Cha Sramik Nari Mancha organized a community-wide blood grouping campaign with the logistic support of ECDO in which nearly 500 tea-garden residents participated. For many participants, it was the first time they learned their blood group, creating greater awareness and preparedness for future medical emergencies.
The platform has also played an important role in promoting transparency and accountability within the tea gardens. Through collective discussions and advocacy, women workers in Doldoli Tea Garden are now able to directly observe the weighing of the tea leaves they collect each day. Since daily wages are determined based on the weight of tea leaves collected, this change has strengthened workers’ confidence in the measurement process and increased transparency in wage determination.
During the quarterly meeting, members reviewed previous decisions and developed a future action plan for the coming months. Several important resolutions were unanimously adopted, including seeking land allocation from tea-garden authorities for establishing a permanent office for the platform, organizing an awareness session on child marriage prevention for secondary and higher secondary students, expanding membership to 200 women by the end of June 2026, celebrating the first anniversary of Cha Sramik Nari Mancha on 1 August 2026, and arranging an eye-care camp for tea-garden communities in the near future.
The meeting was attended by members of the Executive Committee, Advisory Committee, and general members of the platform. Guests included Lakshmikanta Singha, Executive Director of ECDO, and Sajal Ganju, General Secretary of Hiluachhara Tea Garden Panchayet.
The enthusiasm, ownership, and collective action demonstrated by the women of Cha Sramik Nari Mancha reflect the transformative potential of community-led development. Their journey illustrates how women tea workers, when provided with space, support, and opportunities for participation, can become powerful leaders in creating positive change within their communities. ECDO is pleased to continue supporting and patronizing Cha Sramik Nari Mancha as a community-led platform for women tea workers. Through ongoing mentoring, capacity building, and accompaniment, ECDO remains committed to strengthening the leadership and collective voice of tea-garden women, enabling them to identify their own priorities, develop action plans, and take meaningful steps toward creating positive change within their communities. The achievements of the platform thus far demonstrate the power of grassroots leadership and the importance of creating spaces where women can actively participate in decisions that affect their lives and livelihoods.
