Bengal announces Rs 5,000, extra 50 kg rice for tea workers; clears 45,185 govt jobs

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West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday announced a festive relief package of Rs 5,000 and an additional 50 kg of rice for each eligible family of workers affected by the closure of tea gardens, while the state Cabinet approved recruitment to 45,185 government posts across several departments.

The decisions were announced following a special Cabinet meeting at the state secretariat, with the Chief Minister saying the government was committed to supporting workers who had lost their livelihoods and expanding employment opportunities across the state.

Under the relief package, 19,524 eligible tea garden workers below the age of 60 will receive Rs 5,000 directly in their bank accounts. Their families will also receive an additional 50 kg of rice over and above their existing entitlement of 35 kg.

The benefits will be available during the festive period from Durga Puja to Chhath Puja.

𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗮 𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀

Announcing the package, Adhikari said the assistance was intended to provide immediate financial and food security to families whose incomes had been disrupted by the closure of tea gardens.

"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.

The Chief Minister explained that workers employed in closed tea gardens were not receiving regular wages and were consequently unable to benefit from the festive bonuses available to workers in operational gardens.

He said the government had therefore decided to provide direct assistance to ensure that these families were not deprived of support during the festive season.

The additional rice allocation will supplement the existing 35-kg quota available to eligible families.

𝟮𝟬 𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝘂𝗷𝗮 𝗯𝗼𝗻𝘂𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗮 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀

Adhikari said workers employed in functioning tea gardens had received a 20 per cent Puja bonus this year, compared with the 16 per cent bonus provided under 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," he said.

According to the Chief Minister, almost all operational tea gardens have disbursed the bonus, with only one or two establishments yet to complete payments.

He expressed confidence that the remaining gardens would release the bonus shortly.

Adhikari maintained that the increase in the festive bonus reflected the government's commitment to improving the financial security of tea garden workers.

He also praised the contribution of workers from the Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars, describing their welfare as an important priority for the state administration.

𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝟮𝟭 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝗮 𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘀

The Chief Minister said the government was working towards reopening 21 closed tea gardens in north Bengal to restore employment and provide long-term relief to affected families.

The closures have left workers without regular wages, making them dependent on alternative sources of income and government assistance.

Adhikari said the administration was taking steps to address these concerns while exploring ways to revive operations.

He also referred to the Centre's proposed tea workers' welfare initiative, the Pradhan Mantri Cha Shramik Protsahan Yojana.

The Chief Minister claimed that West Bengal had secured an allocation of Rs 312 crore for tea workers' welfare after the BJP came to power in the state.

"Work under the tea scheme will begin in the next two to three months," he said.

The proposed initiative is expected to supplement the state's efforts to improve conditions for tea workers and their families.

𝗖𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝟰𝟱,𝟭𝟴𝟱 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗷𝗼𝗯𝘀

In another major decision, the state Cabinet approved recruitment to 45,185 posts across various government departments.

Adhikari said the Finance Department had cleared the recruitment proposals and the process of filling the vacancies would begin shortly.

"The Finance Department has approved recruitment to 45,185 posts. The recruitment process will begin shortly," he said.

The largest share of vacancies has been allocated to the School Education Department, which will recruit 33,199 personnel.

The Panchayat and Rural Development Department will fill 7,119 posts, while the Technical Education Department will recruit 1,886 officers and clerical employees.

The police department will fill 946 vacancies across various ranks, including deputy commissioners, sub-inspectors and women constables.

The Chief Minister said the recruitment drive was aimed at strengthening the functioning of government departments and improving public service delivery.

𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲

With 33,199 approved vacancies, the School Education Department accounts for the overwhelming majority of posts covered by the Cabinet decision.

The recruitment is expected to address staffing requirements in the education sector, although the government has yet to announce the detailed recruitment schedule and eligibility conditions.

The approval of 7,119 posts in the Panchayat and Rural Development Department is intended to strengthen administrative capacity at the grassroots level.

Similarly, recruitment in technical education and policing is expected to support departmental operations and service delivery.

The announcements combine immediate festive assistance for tea garden workers with a broader employment initiative.

While the relief package is intended to help families affected by closed tea gardens during the festive season, the proposed recruitment drive will depend on the completion of departmental selection procedures.

The government has said the recruitment process will begin shortly, while efforts to reopen closed tea gardens and implement the Centre-backed welfare initiative will continue in the coming months.