Young Workers Find Purpose in Kerala's Tea Gardens

Rajkumar Jani didn't just find a job in Kerala's misty tea gardens. The 23-year-old botany graduate found a place where his education finally made sense and his family could finally breathe easier.

Jani is one of thousands of workers who've migrated from India's eastern states to Kerala, a region so naturally stunning it earned the nickname "God's own country." The southern state's tea, coffee, and spice plantations depend almost entirely on these workers, who travel over 1,000 miles from home seeking opportunities their hometowns can't provide.

The numbers tell a compelling story. Jani and his coworkers earn 1,500 to 2,000 rupees ($17 to $22) daily, more than triple what they could make back in Odisha, one of India's poorest states. Their employers provide housing and provisions, meaning most of their earnings go straight to savings and family support.

Shyam Kalpadia, 26, pioneered this path six years ago. He was the first from his hometown of Koraput to make the journey south, and he's since helped dozens of friends find work in the tea industry, including Jani and two other young men now harvesting alongside him.

What makes their story remarkable isn't just the economics. It's the joy these workers find in their labor. They work without fixed salaries, earning based solely on how many tender tea leaves they collect. No work means no pay, yet they rarely take days off.

"What would we do sitting at home?" Jani says, smiling as he stacks sacks of freshly picked leaves. "Work not only pays, but it also keeps us entertained."

For Jani, there's intellectual satisfaction too. His botany training helps him understand the plants he harvests, making each day more than just manual labor. He knows which leaves produce the best flavor, how the abundant rain affects growth on the hilly slopes, and why the work becomes more challenging during monsoon season.

Why This Inspires

These young men represent millions of internal migrants who power India's economy through quiet determination. They've turned necessity into opportunity, finding not just better wages but genuine appreciation for their work and surroundings. Kalpadia particularly loves the endless greenery and kind locals, aspects of Kerala that make the distance from home more bearable.

Their story also reveals how education and opportunity can align in unexpected ways. Jani spent years studying plants in classrooms, but it's in these verdant hillsides where his knowledge truly comes alive.

In a country where migration often means hardship and exploitation, these tea pickers have discovered something different: meaningful work in a beautiful place, fair compensation, and the satisfaction of helping friends and family build better futures. That's progress worth celebrating.