PEOPLE – OUR ASSET & PRIDE

Each of our tea estates or group is a completely self-contained community, with its own bazaars, places of worship, schools, residential lines and hospitals. The complete workforce is housed on the estates and we provide all amenities. The plantation workers at our estate are probably the best paid unskilled agricultural worker in the country, enjoying all the amenities that a normal industrial worker has and even more, such as provident fund, gratuity, free housing, crèches, free medical aid and schooling for the children up to primary level. Worker welfare is a high priority, which, given the circumstances of distance from urban amenities, is a necessity. A small township, solely dependent on the tea industry for its existence, is situated in the center of the district and looks after the other needs of the population. In addition, recreation clubs are provided for relaxation after a hard day’s work. We understand that happy people make an efficient work force.

The forest surrounding our estates teems with wild life. The flora and fauna have been the subject of studies by people from all over the world. With its mixture of animals ranging from elephants to the larger cats, including tigers, and from stag to mouse deer, and not to speak of the varieties of bird and insect life, this is a veritable paradise. The endangered lion-tailed macaque has its home here and ranges the jungle in peace. It is not surprising that managers who worked here from 1929 onwards took pains to preserve the area in its original condition. Even the planted tea fields were left with jungle belts between them, unlike other areas under tea.

Complementing our commitment for preserving nature, we have made the best use of our resources in safe-guarding the flora and fauna of our virgin forestlands. The Mundanthurai / Kalakkad wildlife reserves have the unique distinction of providing sanctuary to rare and endangered lion-tailed Macaque (Macaca silenus). It is also a protective land for Elephants and Tigers under ‘Project Tiger’, besides many other animals