Abstract

The research looks into the mobility pattern of tea plantation workers within the region of North Bengal. The prevailing regional imbalance due to cultural and social factors have brought inequalities in the area's geography which has also shaped the character of the research. In an attempt to conceptualise mobility in the dimensions of physical and socio-cultural space, the Capability approach (CA) was used for configuring the social discourses that allows tea workers to evaluate critical aspects of their livelihoods. The use of CA has been the proxy for analysing the mobility patterns, aspirations, ambitions and struggles of tea plantation workers. The study examines the debate over the inclusion of mobility and education within the capability space of the tea workers. In the pursuit of furthering one's capabilities, the study unveils a rather different and a contradictory perception of mobility. It invites philosophical reflection on understanding the circumstances and the context play in shaping individual mobility. The study concludes the use and application of CA has proved to be effective in understanding the mobility space of the tea plantation workers and recommends the use of the approach in policy and practice.