Hope for North Bengal Tea Workers as State Plans to Reopen Closed Gardens
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday expressed hope that about a dozen closed tea gardens in north Bengal will reopen in the next few months, and urged migrant workers from the state to return.
Speaking in Kolkata, Mr. Adhikari said that under the Pradhan Mantri Chaa Shramik Yojana, over ₹300 crore has been allocated for the benefit of workers of closed tea gardens. Of the 25 tea gardens that are currently closed, the state expects 10 to 12 to open within the next two to three months.
The Chief Minister credited Labour Minister Arjun Singh and Tea Board Deputy Chairperson C. Murugan for taking steps toward reopening. He noted that tea garden workers, who earn a daily wage of ₹250, face severe distress when gardens close.
Mr. Adhikari claimed that the state is witnessing a resurgence and appealed to migrant workers to return. “I appeal to migrant workers to come back. The state is witnessing the emergence of numerous industrial opportunities. There are also several projects being implemented jointly by the state and the central government,” he said.
He referred to recent investment proposals and said enough employment opportunities are being generated in the state. According to estimates, between two million and five million workers from West Bengal are employed in other states due to a lack of local opportunities.
The Chief Minister also announced a new health scheme, the Chief Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme, for those not covered under Ayushman Bharat. “Distribution of Ayushman Bharat cards will begin from August 16, and all eligible beneficiaries will receive benefits under the Annapurna Yojana by August 30. No ordinary citizen will face any hardship,” he said.
