AN ASSESSMENT OF INCOME VULNERABILITY OF TEA GARDEN WORKERS IN SYLHET DISTRICT

Abstract

The aim of the study was to assess the income vulnerability of tea garden workers in Sylhet district. Two tea gardens were selected for the study namely “Lakkatura Tea Estate” and “Malnicherra Tea Estate”. Household surveys were used to collect data from tea garden workers. A total of 50 households were selected for the study and data was collected through face to face interview. The sample was chosen using the random sampling technique. The statistical tools were also used to analyze the objectives of the study. The chance of falling into income vulnerability was estimated using multiple regression model in this study. The age distribution of the workers revealed that, average age was 39 years old, maximum age was 62 years old, minimum age was 25 years of old. From the family size, it was found that maximum family size has 13 members, minimum family size was 3 members, average family had 6 members and mostly have 7 members. In the educational status of tea workers found that 18% of the respondents had passed primary level, 82% was illiterate. The workers of these tea gardens were living in very miserable condition. The study's findings indicated that, of all the workers sampled, 90 percent were high vulnerable, meaning they had a higher chance of being income vulnerable in the future, while just 4 percent had a low chance of becoming income vulnerable. For the analysis of the determination of income vulnerability some variables had significant effect on the income vulnerability of tea workers. The independent variables— gender, education, family size, and expenditure had a significant impact on the income vulnerability. However, gender, family size, and expenditure had a negative relationship with tea worker’s income vulnerability, meaning these variables had a significant impact on lowering tea garden worker’s income vulnerability. The income vulnerability of tea workers was significantly and negatively impacted by the acquisition value of livestock assets and the availability of credit as adaptive capability. It may lessen the tea garden worker’s vulnerability to change in income. This condition can be improved by taking some implementation method by the policy makers.