News — Assam

One thing tea bushes do not like is the cold. Nor do they take to dry weather. Every year from mid-December to the beginning of March, Assam experiences its cold dry season. The tea bushes go dormant, refusing to put out any new leaf. We have not plucked a cup’s worth of tea at Chota Tingrai since December. But that does not mean we have not been busy! Here’s everything we doing in the gardens. We prune the tea bushes: To promote healthy growth in the spring, we prune tea bushes on a three-year cycle—unpruned, deep skiff, and light prune....

What we have accomplished so far As of January 15, we have managed to open bank accounts for all Chota Tingrai’s permanent workers. Additionally, 85% of casual workers now have accounts. We hope to complete casual worker bank account enrollment in a few weeks. The credit for this progress goes to our banking correspondents. They have worked tirelessly, helping workers fill out applications. They have met with bank officials innumerable times to ensure the bank understands workers’ needs. Thanks to the banking correspondents, the bank has agreed to install ATMs with biometric identification. This will eliminate the potential of pin...