West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday announced a Rs 313.30 crore special assistance package for tea garden workers in the state, mainly concentrated in the plains and hills in North Bengal. In a statement issued by CM Adhikari in the morning, he claimed that a state-level committee had finalised the implementation plan for the 'Pradhan Mantri Cha Shramik Protsahan Yojana' (PMCSPY) scheme in West Bengal with a total financial allocation of Rs 313.30 crore with the aim of transforming the livelihood of the tea garden workers in the state.
“We are committed to the comprehensive welfare, development of health and educational parameters of our hardworking Tea Garden Workers of North Bengal,” the Chief Minister said in the statement. The Chief Minister has also provided details of the total financial allocation of Rs 313.30 crore and information on the different heads the allotted money would be spent on.
In his statement, the Chief Minister has outlined that with a focus on boosting educational infrastructure and quality interventions for the families of tea garden workers, Rs 177 crore has been allotted for that purpose. At the same time, the CM Adhikari added that a Rs 72 crore investment has been allotted to upgrade health facilities and ensure robust medical services in the tea garden areas.
The Chief Minister has informed that Rs 63 crore has been allotted to build 321 resting sheds, out of which 88 will be in the hills and the remaining 233 in the plains. “These sheds will be equipped with modern, dignified amenities including off-grid solar power, clean drinking water, comfortable seating arrangements and hygienic ceramic-floored toilets,” the Chief Minister added.
He also informed that the said assistance package scheme will be operated under the supervision of the state North Bengal Development Department NBDD), which will be the executing agency for the project. “The NBDD will work closely with the State Health Department, the Paschim Banga Samagra Siksha Mission and District Administrations to roll this scheme out smoothly. Our government remains steadfast in its dedication to the prosperity and well-being of the tea garden workers,” the Chief Minister added.