West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday urged migrant workers from the state to return home, assuring them the BJP government would create employment opportunities and provide 125 days of work upon obtaining job cards. He met the families of the 11 workers from West Bengal killed in the recent tunnel accident in Sikkim's Namchi district and announced government jobs for members of nine bereaved families. Each of the affected families will get an ex gratia of Rs 21 lakh, Adhikari told reporters after meeting them at the Jalpaiguri District Magistrate's office.
Appealing to workers who had migrated to other states in search of jobs to return, he said the state was entering an "era of development" and outlined a series of initiatives to accelerate industrial growth in North Bengal. "I appeal to migrant workers to return. The state government is prepared to provide employment opportunities. Those who return can obtain fresh job cards and avail themselves of 125 days of work. "The Centre is providing free ration, Ayushman Bharat is available, and those not covered under it will receive benefits under the Chief Minister's Health Insurance Scheme. We will ensure that they do not face any hardship after returning," the chief minister said.
He said the state government would allot 15 acres to dairy cooperative Amul in North Bengal, similar to the arrangements made in the southern part of the state. "The Industries Department has already identified the land for the project." Highlighting the pitiable condition of the state's tea sector, Adhikari said 25 tea gardens in the state were currently closed, forcing many workers to migrate to other states for employment. To alleviate the situation, West Bengal has been brought under the ambit of the Pradhan Mantri Cha Shramik Protsahan Yojana and Rs 330 crore had been allocated to provide financial assistance to tea garden workers, he said. Adhikari expressed hope that 10 to 12 of the closed tea gardens would resume operations within the next two to three months, crediting it to the efforts of state Labour Minister Arjun Singh and the Tea Board chairperson.
The chief minister said his government was also working to promote agro-based industries in Malda, including processing units for mangoes, litchis, makhana, pineapple and maize, besides encouraging industries centred on the region's renowned Tulaipanji rice.