Redesigning Labour

Thuja

Awarded first place and a grant at the Wisser and Family Innovation Challenge 2.0

An ergonomic bamboo headgear designed for tea women workers, made with cloth and natural foam, featuring a strap system that shifts weight from the head to the shoulders for better comfort and safety, while preserving the traditional essence of the jaapi.

Imagine carrying twelve one-litre steel flasks,

hanging from your head for 50 hours a week;

a burden that grinds deeper into your bones day by day.

Imagine carrying twelve one-litre steel flasks,

hanging from your head for 50 hours a week;

a burden that grinds deeper into your bones day by day.

Imagine carrying twelve one-litre steel flasks,

hanging from your head for 50 hours a week;

a burden that grinds deeper into your bones day by day.

"Due to discomfort associated with repetitive hand movement in bending posture while carrying the load of the basket with plucked tea leaves on the back, the workers perceived maximum discomfort at the neck, wrists, back and upper arms. The work stress on the women workers may be reduced by implementing ergonomic interventions like, reduction of load of plucked tea leaves being carried in the basket and sufficient rest during the daily rigorous work hours."

-Indian Journal of Hill Farming

Product

Relief without disruption:

Even the most ergonomic head support loses comfort over time. Thuja’s strap system lets workers shift the load from the head to the shoulders, offering relief without removing or altering their setup

Recognition:

Tujha was awarded the first place at Wisser and Family Innovation Challenge 2.0, hosted at Don Bosco Institute, Jorhat. We also received a grant of 2.3 lakh for further development of the project.

"We lead stressful lives with no rest, and
the fear of losing daily our wage is always there."

Research

Initial research was carried out at Cinnamara Tea Estate over a continuous period of 2 weeks.

Observations

(These observations were a result of extensive field research, conversations,
role play and secondary research conducted with tea workers of Assam.)

Women balance household work with
long, exhausting hours in tea gardens.

Breaks lack dignity, unsafe water,
harsh conditions, inadequate rest.

Aspirations for alternative income
(like cattle rearing) remain unfulfilled
due to lack of resources.

Daily tasks involve carrying 20–25 kg baskets with makeshift supports that cause pain and injury.

Tools cause cuts, stress, and mobility restrictions; plastic often replaces traditional materials.

Education and healthcare exist but don’t translate to real opportunities.

Wages depend on strict quotas; workers feel underpaid and insecure.

Analysis

Pain Points

Insights

Opportunities

Problem Statement

Tea plantation workers, especially women, carry 20–25 kg of tea leaves daily using plastic ropes and towels that place excessive pressure on the head and neck. This leads to chronic pain, musculoskeletal disorders, and long-term postural damage. Existing equipment lacks ergonomic support, disrupts movement, and often replaces traditional bamboo craft with unsustainable plastic alternatives.

Objective

To design an ergonomic, sustainable headgear that reduces physical strain for tea plantation workers while preserving cultural practices and empowering local communities.

Approach

community-centric

culturally relevant

ergonomic

This approach not only alleviates daily physical challenges but also fosters a sense of pride and ownership within the community, creating a tangible connection between heritage and practical innovation.

Empathy Mapping

Based off field research and qualitative interviews.

SAYS

“My shoulder hurts from plucking leaves all day.”

“We only earn ₹1000 a week, men don’t pluck leaves because pay is too low.”

“I wish I could have gone to school; almost all of us

are illiterate.”

“It’s too hot to work here all day.”

“After 5, we don’t feel safe because of drunk men roaming.”

DOES

Wakes 3–6 AM to finish chores before 8 AM fieldwork.

Plucks tea leaves, carries 25 kg baskets twice daily.

Eats lunch in harsh sun, drinks unsafe water.

Works as a bungalow maid after 5 PM to earn extra.

THINKS

Pain and injuries are just “part of the job.”

Work demands skill, speed, and resilience.

Wants alternative income but lacks means.

Sees healthcare access as crucial.

FEELS

Underpaid and financially strained.

Slight reassurance under govt. oversight, yet insecure.

Proud to support her family; women’s role feels central.

Monika Tanti

Access the entire research document here.

"We lead stressful lives with no rest, and
the fear of losing daily our wage is always there."

Design

Is there a way to harness the shoulder option when feeling tired of wearing in head?

A product to collect tea leaves at the same time something to protect from wind and rain possible collection methods:

Why everyone still uses bamboo basket and ties

it to their head?

Mockups

A product to collect tea leaves at the same time something to protect from wind and rain possible collection methods:

User Testing

Comfort:

Although there were sizing and functionality issues in the first round of user testing, the one area which aced it was comfort.

Development

3 New Mockups:

New iterations with different materials, form and fitting have been developed and are currently awaiting user testing which has been scheduled for the end of October 2025.

"We lead stressful lives with no rest, and the fear of losing daily our wage is always there."

Research

Observations

(These observations were a result of extensive field research, conversations, role play and secondary research conducted with tea workers of Assam.)

Women balance household work with long, exhausting hours in tea gardens.

Breaks lack dignity, unsafe water, harsh conditions, inadequate rest.

Aspirations for alternative income(like cattle rearing) remain unfulfilled due to lack of resources.

Daily tasks involve carrying 20–25 kg baskets with makeshift supports that cause pain and injury.

Tools cause cuts, stress, and mobility restrictions; plastic often replaces traditional materials.

Education and healthcare exist but don’t translate to real opportunities.

Wages depend on strict quotas; workers feel underpaid and insecure.

"We lead stressful lives with no rest, and the fear of losing daily our wage is always there."

Design

User Testing

"We lead stressful lives with no rest, and
the fear of losing daily our wage is always there."

(These observations were a result of extensive field research, conversations,
role play and secondary research conducted with tea workers of Assam.)

Women balance household work with
long, exhausting hours in tea gardens.

Breaks lack dignity, unsafe water,
harsh conditions, inadequate rest.

Aspirations for alternative income
(like cattle rearing) remain unfulfilled
due to lack of resources.

"We lead stressful lives with no rest, and
the fear of losing daily our wage is always there."