Wednesday, Nov 04, 2026 23:30 [IST]
Last Update: Tuesday, Nov 03, 2026 17:49 [IST]
SILIGURI, : West
Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday announced financial and
ration assistance for nearly 20,000 workers of closed tea gardens across the
Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars regions.
The
announcement was made during a meeting on tea garden-related issues chaired by
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari at Uttarkanya here.
Under
the special assistance package, nearly 20,000 workers of closed tea estates
will receive financial assistance of Rs. 5,000 each along with a one-time
additional 50 kg of ration ahead of the festive season.
Darjeeling
MP Raju Bista, who attended the meeting, expressed gratitude to the Chief
Minister on behalf of workers from closed tea gardens across the region. In a
press statement, Bista said the assistance would provide timely relief to
workers facing economic hardship and help their families celebrate the festive
season with greater dignity and security.
Bista
further shared that the Chief Minister had issued another important instruction
concerning the monthly ration entitlement of tea garden families.
According
to the MP, the Chief Minister has directed that all tea garden families receive
50 kg of ration instead of the existing 35 kg. This would extend the increased
ration entitlement beyond workers of closed tea estates to tea garden families
more broadly.
The
meeting also focused on issues affecting tea garden workers and the future of
the tea industry across North Bengal.
The
relief announcement follows the earlier approval of a festive assistance
package for 19,524 eligible workers from 21 closed tea gardens.
