States » EastPosted at: Oct 14 2026 7:34PM


Panchami relief for 19,254 tea workers as WB govt announces Rs 5,000 aid, extra foodgrains

Kolkata, Oct 14 (UNI) On the eve of Panchami, the West Bengal government on Wednesday announced Rs 5,000 assistance and additional foodgrains for 19,254 tea workers from closed gardens, as the state stepped up support for tea workers ahead of Durga Puja.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, speaking after a Cabinet meeting at Nabanna, said workers from tea gardens that had remained closed during the past three years would receive the assistance through the Labour Department.
“This is a small gesture. This is a small gift from the government for the welfare of tea garden workers,” Adhikari said.
The workers, who currently receive 35 kg of rice a month, will also get an additional 50 kg of rice/foodgrains, following the Cabinet decision, he said.
The government has proposed a 20 per cent Puja bonus for tea garden workers this year, with several gardens having already paid the bonus, officials said. The proposed rate is higher than the 16 per cent bonus proposed by the state government last year.
Adhikari said the government was also working to reopen 21 closed tea gardens in North Bengal.
“Especially in North Bengal, efforts are being made to reopen the 21 tea gardens that have remained closed. The Labour Minister, who is also our MP, is also working on this,” he said.
The announcement comes a day before Panchami, as tea workers and their families across the Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars prepare for Durga Puja amid continuing uncertainty in several closed gardens.
Adhikari said Rs 312 crore had been approved for infrastructure development under the Pradhan Mantri Chai Shramik Yojana, with the North Bengal Development Authority (NBDA) acting as the nodal agency.
“The proposal for infrastructure development was sent after the government came in, and approval for Rs 312 crore has been received. NBDA is the nodal agency, and that work will also be undertaken,” he said.
The work would be undertaken within the next two to three months, Adhikari said, alleging that the scheme had not been implemented in West Bengal earlier.
“Assam completed this work earlier and received funds twice. A lot of damage was caused to tea workers because of the negativity of the previous West Bengal government. We are trying to compensate for that,” he said.
UNI SEN RSA
Tags: #Panchami relief for 19#254 tea workers as WB govt announces Rs 5#000 aid# extra foodgrains
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