Improving Lives programme: Social inclusion initiatives in Doomur Dullung Tea Estate, India

Since 2014, ETP and UNICEF have collaborated to support communities in tea estates in Assam, India, through the Improving Lives Programme.

Part of the programme supports social inclusion of women and young people in the community, fostering economic empowerment and resilience within the tea gardens. The programme aims to ensure that states, districts, and community systems have the capacity to plan, track and improve social protection schemes, particularly for women, girls, and boys in tea communities.

Ankita’s journey with the Adolescent Girls Group (AGG)

Assam, 26 January 2024 – 18-year-old Ankita lives with her family in the Doomur Dullung tea estate. She is pursuing a BA in Assamese and Sociology at Moran Women’s College and takes computer classes on the side.

“I did not always have access to these classes. Initially, I could not enroll as my parents could not afford to pay for them” explained Ankita.

But thanks to the intervention of the Sneha Bandhan AGG, Ankita learnt about the opportunities she could have to study and the existing schemes to support her education.

Ankita joined the Sneha Bandhan AGG in 2015 and now leads bi-weekly sessions.

Adolescent Groups (AGs) are funded by the ETP and UNICEF partnership. The clubs hold sessions on various topics aimed at reducing inequities and gender inequalities for children and adolescents, particularly girls.

In Ankita’s words:

In 2022, for the first time, bank officials and members of the Improving Lives programme conducted a session on financial literacy and bank accounts in the Sneha Bandhan AGG. Financial literacy refers to the knowledge and skills needed to make important financial decisions in individuals’ lives.

“During this session, I discovered about the Post Matrix scholarship, how to apply for it and how to open an account under my name to receive the funds. The speaker at the AGG was very helpful and gave us all the information I needed.”

This scheme provides scholarships to meritorious students from economically disadvantaged communities, giving them opportunities to better access higher education and enhance their employability.

Financial assistance is provided under scholarship schemes to students enrolled in high school. The scholarships, which can provide up to US$684, offer an opportunity for students, especially girls, to continue their secondary and higher education.

“Three months after applying, the money was in my account, and I was able to enrol to the classes I wanted to do,” explained Ankita.

Thanks to the AGG, 7,580 adolescents, including a significant number of girls, benefitted from the provision of scholarships by the government of Assam.

Most social inclusion schemes require a bank account for transferring financial aid. Through the AGG sessions, adolescent girls like Ankita gain crucial information on financial services and learning how to save and access government schemes. One key figure in this effort is Anita Senchuwa, who has been instrumental in teaching financial literacy to the girls.

Financial inclusion

Anita Senchuwa, a bank correspondent at the Assam Gramin Vikash Bank, has been delivering sessions about financial inclusion in the AGG for several years.

“My work is centered around women and children. I teach them how to open bank accounts, access scholarships and schemes, and manage savings accounts,” Anita explained.

When Anita started, she noticed that many women did not know they could save their money.

Leveraging government resources, the Improving Lives programme conducted 200 community awareness programs focused on financial and digital inclusion across five districts – resulting in 2,800 women and adolescent girls accessing banking services.

“We attended a five-day training where we learned how to obtain identification documents like Aadhaar or PAN cards to open bank accounts and understand how they can be used in the future. After that, we held sessions in the AGG with people living on tea estates to share this knowledge with them” explained Ankita.

This initiative not only promoted access to banking and digital services but also empowered women to participate more in economic activities such as depositing their salary on a saving account or making purchases for their own needs, contributing to their financial independence.

One such woman is Lakshi Kumar, Ankita’s mother, who is determined to build a better future for her family.

Empowerment through education

Lakshi was the first in her family to hear about financial literacy.

She said:

As part of the programme, ETP and UNICEF have organised nearly 2,000 awareness sessions for pregnant women on key maternity benefit schemes. These sessions provided women with key information, including eligibility criteria, and the required documents to access the schemes.*

This initiative led to a 78% registration rate of pregnant women for the maternity benefit scheme across 198 tea estates in 2023, reflecting improved access to essential social protection services.

“My mom really encouraged me to make the most of the resources available for my education,” Ankita explained.

With the scholarship money, she now attends computer classes every week and was able to buy academic books and supplies.

“I go to my computer classes from 8-9am and go directly to college after it. I hope to get my certificate next year” she added.

Through these lessons, Ankita has learnt a lot and is confident with using software such as Microsoft Office, Tally, Photoshop, and PageMaker.

The money from the government can only be paid into a bank account, by getting women to set up bank accounts they can receive these benefits, and the benefits can extend further as now they are included in the financial system.

She added:

Impact of the programme and plans for the future

Investing in girls’ secondary education has also dramatically increased their lifetime earnings potential, leading to higher national economic growth rates. Additionally, child marriage and mortality rates decline, along with maternal mortality rates. By supporting girls’ secondary education, tea communities can unlock a virtuous cycle of social and economic development. This highlights the programme’s commitment to supporting social inclusion for women and adolescents across the tea estates.

“The programme taught me how important it is to have a bank account. This knowledge is very important to survive in day-to-day life, especially for women,” explained Ankita.

The scholarship has had a profound impact on Ankita, boosting her self-confidence and shaping her outlook on her future. Inspired by this experience, she now aspires to become a teacher and help younger children in their growth.

The programme will continue its efforts to increase awareness on these services particularly for adolescents, young people and women and ensure financial and digital inclusion across all 205 tea estates.

* The money from the government can only be paid into a bank account, by getting women to set up bank accounts they can receive these benefits, and the benefits can extend further as now they are included in the financial system.