From growing tea to building a school

Fairtrade Foundation's Emma Huntly's blogging throughout her visit to India

It was after 24 hours of travelling that we arrived in the tea town of Coonoor in Tamil Nadu, India. So you can imagine, I was gasping for a cuppa. And I was in luck. I've come to the heart of South Indian tea production. Coonoor is at the base of the Nilgiri Hills, or the Blue Mountains as they are called locally because of the blueish coloured mist that covers them. Tea from the region's many tea estates, finds its way into the tea bags of our favourite brands and many of the supermarket own label brands.

Tea was first planted in this region by the Brits, so it was fitting today that when we travelled up the steep winding roads up to Thaishola tea estate that it rained all the way. But tea bushes need lots of rain, so the combination of a cold climate and high altitude means the estate we visited produces some of the highest quality tea in South India.

Thaishola tea estate is new to the Fairtrade family. It was certified in 2008 and already sells around 60% under Fairtrade terms. This is very high compared to other estates in the region. It means that the joint body (the group of 12 elected worker representatives) has been able to agree the spending for lots of great projects with the Fairtrade premium money, (this is the extra money the company pays when it buys the tea and it goes into a separate bank account for the workers to decide how to spend).

The first thing that Rajama, Kala and Sivaja told us about is how they are planning to buy cooking gas stoves for the workers. These women pick tea until 4pm - 6pm depending on the time of year and currently they have to go after work to collect firewood. This can take up to 3 hours of walking and collecting. So it's no surprise that they spoke with great animation about this scheme and how they hope to spend more time with their children in the evenings as a result of this addition.

The next thing they told us about was the school bus they are planning to buy and run. Currently, students take the government bus to secondary school (there is only a primary school on the estate). This bus is often late and can be overcrowded and dangerous. It's particularly problematic in exam time when lots of students are late for exams and either miss them or retake them because they don't get to school on time. One of the workers we spoke to said this problem was a problem for her when she went to school as she missed her exams and she doesn't want the same to happen to her children.

In a country like India, where much value is put on education, it is not surprising that the Joint Body members spoke loudly and fast about the scholarship scheme that they are starting up. This fund will pay for tuition fees for higher level education that is currently not possible for lots of the workers children. Rajamma told me she wants her children to have a better life that she has and for them to get themselves good jobs.

I asked the workers who were sitting round the table, brightening the grey and misty day in their beautifully coloured saris and sparkling bracelets, what they would say to someone in the UK. They all liked this questions and talked loudly and for a long time to the interpreter! They said, 'buy more of our Fairtrade tea because we work hard and pick great quality tea for you. We want future generations to benefit as we are beginning to'. They have a list as long as their arm that they were telling me of things that they want to do with the premium money.

It was fascinating to see just what an impact Fairtrade has had in such a short amount of time in this estate.

Keep reading for more news to come from India. And last of all, a very happy Gandi day to you.