Kolkata, Oct 14 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday announced a festive-season package of Rs 5,000 and 50 kg of rice for each eligible family of tea garden workers rendered jobless by garden closures, over and above their existing 35-kg quota.
The benefits will be available from Durga Puja to Chhath Puja, Adhikari said after a special Cabinet meeting at the state secretariat.
“This is a small step by a government that is committed to people’s welfare. We will transfer Rs 5,000 to the bank accounts of 19,524 workers aged below 60 years. Each family will also receive an additional 50 kg of rice,” he said.
He also said the government has taken this step since these workers were not receiving wages and hence not eligible for a bonus.
Adhikari pointed out that workers of operational tea gardens have been paid a “20 per cent puja bonus this year, an increase from the 16 per cent given by the previous government”.
“Several tea gardens in north Bengal remain closed. The previous government gave a 16 per cent bonus during Puja. This year, our government has provided a 20 per cent bonus. Almost all gardens, barring one or two, have disbursed the bonus, and the remaining ones will do so shortly,” he said.
The chief minister said efforts were underway to reopen the 21 closed tea gardens and provide relief to workers who had lost their livelihoods.
Praising tea workers from the Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars, he said the government was committed to addressing their concerns.
He also referred to the Centre’s proposed tea workers’ welfare initiative, claiming the state had secured an allocation of Rs 312 crore for their welfare after the BJP came to power in West Bengal.
“Work under the tea scheme (Pradhan Mantri Cha Shramik Protsahan Yojana) will begin in the next two to three months,” the chief minister added.
At the Cabinet meeting, the state government also approved recruitment to 45,185 posts across various departments.
“The Finance Department has approved recruitment to 45,185 posts. The recruitment process will begin shortly,” Adhikari said.
He said of the total vacancies, 33,199 posts will be filled in the School Education Department, while 7,119 appointments will be made in the Panchayat and Rural Development Department.
The Technical Education Department will recruit 1,886 officers and clerks, while 946 vacancies will be filled in the police department across various ranks, including deputy commissioners, sub-inspectors and women constables, the chief minister added. PTI SCH NSD
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