Garden aid

TT, Dec. 24: The Jalpaiguri district magistrate's office unit of Paschimbanga Rajya Sarkari Karmachari Federation, the government employees' front of Trinamul, today distributed foodgrains and clothes in Bagrakote, Nagaisuree and Kilkott tea gardens owned by the Duncans Goenka Group.

They also brought doctors from Malbazar and Metelli blocks who conducted check ups and provided free medicines.

"In each garden, we distributed 600kg rice, 120kg pulses, around 15kg soybean and winter garments," Pulak Kar, the secretary of the unit, said.

The move, however, has evoked criticisms from some leaders in the party.

A senior Trinamul leader in Jalpaiguri, however, said the move would lead to several questions. "The initiative is a noble but ... it would be interpreted by other political parties as an oblique acknowledgment that the state's efforts are not adequate for the tea workers.

Biswajit Guha, an advisor to the federation, however, said the move was to supplement the state's initiative.