Quarantine centres for migrants in Bengal tea gardens - It was also decided that the management of the estates will provide food and other aid to those kept in such camps

The meeting in progress in Jalpaiguri on Monday. Picture by Biplab Basak

TT, Jalpaiguri, 2.06.20: Migrant workers reaching their homes in tea estates of Bengal would not be allowed to stay in home quarantine but kept in quarantine centres in each tea garden.

The decision was taken at a meeting convened by the state health department on Monday. Representatives of tea planters’ associations and tea trade unions were also present at the convention.

“Migrant workers, who hail from tea gardens, are staying in home quarantine at the workers’ quarters. This can lead to spreading of the corona pandemic in the tea belt as their family members who work in tea gardens, are joining work every day. That is why, it has been decided that anybody coming from outside in a garden will be kept at community quarantine centres which would be opened in schools, ICDS centres and similar buildings in each tea estate,” said Sanjay Bagchi, secretary of the Dooars Branch of Indian Tea Association.

At the meeting, it was also decided that the management of tea estates concerned will provide food and other aid to those kept in such centres.

“There are around 35 closed and abandoned tea gardens in north Bengal. For those who are returning in such estates, the administration of districts concerned should take the responsibility of shifting the migrants to the quarantine centres and also make arrangements for their food as there is no help from the management,” said Ziaur Alam, general secretary of Citu-backed Cha Bagan Mazdoor Union.