We provide food and relief to garden workers: Mamata

EOI, JALPAIGURI 4 Nov 2015: Addressing a function today at Mal Parimal Mitra Smriti College in Jalpaiguri, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, “The Left Front, BJP, Congress and the Centre have done nothing for tea garden workers. We have provided them with rice, dal and other essentials. We are there to share their good and bad times. Be they issues related to electricity or drinking water, the state government has been able to resolve all problems and is constantly working to improve things. We support those garden owners who work diligently, but will be strict on the ones who go against the rules.” 

Launching a number of programmes from the dais, Banerjee said she wants to see peace and development in the hills and the Terai and the Dooars. 

“I am not here to divide West Bengal, but to unite it and work my entire life for the benefit of its people,” she asserted, evidently as a clear warning to Gorkha Janmukti Morcha chief Bimal Gurung. Speaking on issues related to closed gardens in Jalpaiguri, the chief minister said the state government has started low-rate medical shops in many including Kathalguri, Surendra Nagar and Dharnipur gardens through Self Help Groups. 

“We will soon start providing electricity to those gardens reeling under power problems, while drinking water related works will also be started. We have set aside a sum of Rs100 crore for the welfare of tea gardens and workers,” she said. 

Attacking the BJP-led central government, Banerjee said it has stopped grants for central schemes such as ICDS and Sarva Siksha Aabhiyaan, but the state government has continued them and many other rural programmes on its own.