Biography:
Sara Hylton is an award-winning photographer and explorer recognized for her compassionate and intimate approach to human rights issues. Hylton is a faculty member at the International Center of Photography and holds an MA from Kings College...
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At the end of the work day, tea pluckers sort through all of their leaves to make sure there are no impurities or pests on the Craigmore plantation in Nilgiri, Tamil Nadu. Workers are paid a base rate of 218.75 rupees per day, which is roughly $4 USD. There is incentive if they pluck beyond the base weight. This wage is considerably better than the average wage of India's tea plantation workers, which is said to be $1.50 USD per day.Â
A tea plucker holds plucked tea leaves at the Craigmore tea plantations located in India's Nilgiri Hills. These leaves go into making green tea. Most of these tea leaves will be supplied to major companies such as PG Tips and Lipton.Â
A tea plucker at the Woodlands plantation, part of Craigmore tea plantations. Craigmore employs around 1500 employees from the states of Tamil Nadu and Jaharkhand.Â
Children prepare for lunch at the nursery located on the Craigmore tea plantations in the Nilgiri Hills. All children of tea plantation workers, mostly from the Northeastern state of Jhaharkhand, are provided day care while their parents work the tea fields from 8 am to 6 pm.Â
School children study at the school located on the Craigmore tea plantations in India's Nilgiri Hills. All children of tea workers are provided free schooling by the plantation.