The welfare and the well being of Tata Tea's large workforce - about 34,000 employees and their families drawn largely from the weaker sections of the society is of paramount importance to the company. The company has put in dedicated effort and large expenditure, entirely voluntary, that has gone into upgrading the quality of life of the workforce.

Shristi

Sristi is a Welfare Complex situated in Nullatanni Estate, which houses the three units for rehabilitation of handicapped children and youth, namely DARE, ATHULYA and ARANYA, which got the Company the prestigious FICCI Award 1997-98 for its outstanding achievement in training and placement of persons with disability.

Dare

Developmental Activities in Rehabilitative Education (DARE) is the Company's School for Special Children, which started in November 1991. Dare today provides rehabilitative services to about 77 children falling between 5 and 15 years of age, with learning and other associated disabilities due to hearing / speech impairment, mental retardation of various degrees or mild /severe orthopaedic handicap. Dare is the recipient of the Kerala State Award 1997 in recognition of its commendable services in rehabilitation of handicapped children.

The objective of DARE is to introduce these children to a normal social situation by helping them catch up on their developmental delays and by teaching them self-help skills, functional academics, socialization skills and prevocational skills and training in games, dance, music, cooking, handicrafts, etc., that would invigorate them to make their lives meaningful and productive.

DARE has a branch in Uralikal Estate for the benefit of the handicapped children of our employees in the Anamallais Estates.

The Strawberry preserve making unit of DARE offers vocational rehabilitation to the elder children of the project. DARE sells greetings cards, the printed artistic expressions of the handicapped children, the sale proceeds of which are ploughed back to the good cause for which DARE has been founded.

Athulya

Athulya is the Vocational Training Centre for the handicapped youth which started in January 1991 with just 14 youths. Today it provides vocational rehabilitation to 32 youths, aged between 16 and 35, who have been trained by the unit in book binding, file making, paper ruling, printing, envelop making, etc. Thus Athulya produces stationery items that are supplied to the Company and the handicapped youths get appropriate payment for the job-orders they execute.

Aranya

Aranya is the vegetable dye unit, providing vocational rehabilitation to 11 youths with physical handicap. The unit was started in 1995. This eco-responsible rehabilitation project uses only plant wastes, dired leaves, dired fruit rinds, weeds, etc., which are available locally, for dyeing yarns and fabrics. The training given to these handicapped youths has greatly helped them in gaining lots of exposure and confidence in handling this delicate and ancient art and is a definite source of financial support to them.

General Hospital

This medical set up was organized in the High Range around 1909 and in 1942, the General Hospital was established in its present place. Over the years the Company has improved the infrastructure and facilities in the G.H.

The Neo-Natal Special Care Unit, the Intensive Coronary Care Unit, the 3 well equipped Operation Theatres and the host of poly-clinics are the pride of the G.H. A total of 36 doctors including 17 specialists, 98 nurses, 14 welfare officers and nearly 200 paramedical staff are attached to the G.H. which also provides medicare to the public at a very nominal cost.

CD & SW Scheme

Started in late 1984 by the Company with the aim of providing Total Health Care to its employees and their families, the Community Development and Social Welfare Scheme operates under the Medical Department with a team of Welfare Officers headed by a Medical Officer-in-Charge.

Under this Scheme, the Company carries out an annual welfare assessment, a team headed by the external auditor, who is an advisor to the WHO, carries out a physical verification of the welfare measures and the tangible and intangible effects on the community.

Muthuvan Welfare

The Company organizes regular health camps for the Muthuvans by way of sending its medical officers, welfare officers and paramedical staff to the distant Muthuvan Kudis to examine the adults and children for any health problem, to dispense General Hospital in munnar and to educate them on health topics. The Company also refers Muthuvan patients who require special treatment to super speciality hospitals elsewhere in the state.

The Company also provides necessary aid for education of Muthuvan children and holds periodic meetings with the Muthuvan Kanis and Forest/ Government officials to effect good liaison between the two. The Company has employed twelve Muthuvan watchers in its efforts for environment preservation and wild life protection.

Technical Training Schools

The Company runs 4 Trade Schools in the High Range in the name of Techinical Training Schools in Blacksmithy and Carpentry for boys and one such school in tailoring for girls, who are educated dependants of the employees.

The boys and girls, after proper training given by the instructors employed by the Company for the purpose, are encouraged to form associations and take orders as a means of economic relief to them.

The High Range School

Started by the Company in 1984, the High Range School with CBSE syllabus is one of the best schools in the state of Kerala and the only one of its kind run by any plantation company in the South. The High Range School provides excellent education to the children of your Company's employees who, on merit basis, are selected for admission.

Sports Activities

Realising the importance of the maxim "a sound mind in a sound body" the Company encourages sports activities among talented children of its employees through the Tata Tea Sports club. The Company maintains excellent teams in football, power lifting, table tannis and athletics.

Scouts and Guides Activities

Yet another non-statutory welfare measure that is undertaken by the Company is the promotion of the Bharat Scouts and Guides Movement among the children of its employees. This is perhaps the only instance of a corporate house promoting such activities and is unparallel in the history of the Movement.

Environment Conservation

The Company provides financial support to the High Range Wildlife and Environment Preservation Association, an organization registered in 1990 under the Travancore Cochin Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Registration Act, 1995 for the purpose of forming Nature Clubs and organizing nature camps and classes for students and its members, replanting of degraded shoals with native species, assisting the Wildlife Officers of Eravikulam National Park in taking wildlife census and managing the Park by employing watchers, appointing Muthuvan watchers, educating school children and the public on wildlife and environment by arranging film shows, competition, etc.

The Company also sponsors nature awareness / conservation activities in the name of Kanan Devan Nature Clubs in twenty-odd women's colleges in Kerala.