--- Natarej, Korakundah teaworker

Cultivated in the Nilgiri ‘Blue Mountains’ of South India at an altitude of 8,200 feet, tea from the Korakundah garden is among the highest in the world. Established in 1928, the garden was first organic certified in 1997 and has become one of the premier organic tea estates in India. Korakundah remains firmly committed to sustainable production methods and local ecosystem conservation. Tigers, panthers, elephants and sambars are spotted regularly in the dense jungle surrounding this pristine garden. In 1994, Korakundah became the first South Indian tea garden to be Fair Trade certified by Fair Trade Labelling Organizations International.

The Fair Trade price has enabled workers at The United Nilgiri Tea Estates Company LTD to establish various social and productive programs

Education.
Fair Trade funded school improvements, including construction of a well-equiped new science laboratory, and puchase of a school bus and a set of 12 computers. Fair Trade income has also been used to construct a hostel that houses students who live far away from the tea garden’s school.

Environment.
Cooking gas is provided to all tea workers, reducing their reliance on time-consuming and resource intensive firewood collection.

Credit Program.
The workers created a pension and housing fund for retired tea workers. In a country that lacks adequate care and services for the elderly, this fund provides vital financial support, and helps retired members maintain their homes.

Health.
All workers and children are now vaccinated against Hepatitis B and Typhoid at the garden’s health center. The workers are provided with accident insurance and medi-claim policies for all the workers.

Home Improvements.
Fair Trade revenue funded infrastructure improvements to the workers’ community hall, including purchase of 700 chairs and protective window grills, and electricity installation.