Panel push on garden schemes

TT, Siliguri, Jan. 27: The special commissioner on right to food appointed by the Supreme Court today suggested the formation of a committee to monitor the food security scheme and social protection measures for tea garden workers.

Harsh Mandar held a meeting with chief secretary Basudeb Banerjee and principal secretaries of different departments in Calcutta today to review the situation in closed and sick tea estates. He also held a video conference with district magistrates of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar and discussed several issues pertaining to jobless workers and their families.

Speaking to The Telegraph over phone from Calcutta, Mandar said: "I have proposed the formation of a joint committee comprising two representatives each of the Supreme Court commissioners on right to food and the state government. The panel will work jointly for a year to monitor the food security scheme's implementation and social protection measures for workers in ailing tea gardens. The committee should be authorised to review the situation and the implementation of decisions taken by the state government. It will submit a report to the state and the Supreme Court commissioners every two month."

Mandar said the state had been asked to find out if it was possible for the government to provide basic services like education, drinking water, health and housing to tea garden workers and their dependants. "It was also proposed that self-help groups be assigned with the task of running ration shops in tea gardens."

He said there had been "considerable improvement" in the government's initiative to provide relief to the workers. "But a lot needs to be done," he added.