English
English
English
Adhikari announces fresh benefits for Bengal tea garden workers. (Img: IANS)
Siliguri: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has announced fresh benefits for tea garden workers ahead of Diwali, following similar assistance during Durga Puja. At an administrative meeting at Uttar Kanya in Siliguri on Tuesday, he said workers would receive 50 kg of rice instead of the existing 35 kg, along with Rs 5,000.
The government is also considering increasing the quantity of rice supplied through the public distribution system. Once the proposal is finalised, eligible beneficiaries will receive 50 kg instead of 35 kg.
Adhikari reiterated his commitment to reopening closed tea gardens in North Bengal. Addressing Labour Minister Arjun Singh during the meeting, he said, "You have to reopen all the closed tea gardens; the Chief Minister cannot do everything."
Addressing workers, he said, "Keep your job cards ready; work will start soon. Everyone will be brought under the Pradhan Mantri Chai Shramik Yojana."
Also Read: Karnataka Government to Support Promotion of Medical Literature in Kannada: DK Shivakumar
"There are still many closed tea gardens here. They need to be reopened soon. Keep your job cards ready; work will begin," he said.
The Chief Minister said the Samsing tea garden and a few others had already reopened and added that work under the Pradhan Mantri Chai Shramik Yojana would begin shortly.
Adhikari also announced that the foundation stone for a medical college in Kalimpong would be laid soon, with December 9 being considered the tentative date.
Also Read: Visakhapatnam Man Allegedly Tricked Into Joining Russian Army, Mother Appeals for Help
The Chief Minister arrived in Siliguri on Tuesday afternoon and reviewed the progress of development projects in North Bengal at Uttar Kanya. Members of a Kamtapuri language organisation also met him to demand inclusion of their language in the Constitution's Eighth Schedule. No government assurance on the demand was immediately available.
The closure of tea gardens has left thousands of workers without livelihoods. The previous Trinamool Congress government had introduced welfare measures, including free ration, Swasthya Sathi health cards and the Cha Sundari housing scheme. Former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had repeatedly blamed the Centre for the crisis in the tea industry.
Tea garden workers are now looking to the new government for the reopening of closed gardens and a lasting solution to their problems.
