Tea and Cinchona Garden Workers to Benefit as West Bengal Opens Door for Full Implementation of Welfare Schemes

KalimNews | May 4, 2026 | Darjeeling : Darjeeling MP Raju Bista has expressed gratitude to West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari for permitting the implementation of all government development projects and welfare schemes in tea garden and cinchona garden areas across the region. Describing the decision as a major relief for thousands of workers and their families, Bista said the move would help ensure that residents of these areas receive the benefits of several important Central and State government initiatives.

On behalf of the people of the Darjeeling hills, Terai, and Dooars—particularly those living and working in tea and cinchona gardens—Bista thanked the Chief Minister for facilitating the implementation of welfare programmes that had remained out of reach for many residents for years.

The Member of Parliament recalled that on May 29, 2026, he had written to the Chief Minister requesting approval for the extension of these schemes to tea and cinchona garden areas. In his communication, he had highlighted how workers in these regions had allegedly been deprived of the benefits of various development projects and welfare programmes over the past fifteen years due to administrative and policy-related obstacles.

According to Bista, the Chief Minister’s decision will significantly improve access to healthcare and social welfare services for garden workers and their families. Easier enrolment under Ayushman Bharat, upgraded healthcare centres, and the establishment of new Anganwadi and Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) facilities are expected to strengthen healthcare delivery in these remote areas.

The order will also pave the way for the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission, ensuring improved access to safe drinking water. Workers who are not fully employed in the gardens will become eligible for up to 125 days of employment under the G-RAM programme, while opportunities for alternative livelihoods will be expanded through the National Rural Livelihood Mission and various State Skill Development initiatives.

Special attention is also expected to be given to workers in sick and closed tea gardens through diversification and rehabilitation programmes designed to create sustainable sources of income. Women in these communities will benefit from the expansion of self-help groups and micro-enterprise initiatives, helping them achieve greater economic independence.

For children, the decision is expected to improve access to quality education, scholarships, mid-day meal programmes, and vocational training opportunities. Families will also gain easier access to social security benefits, including old-age pensions, widow pensions, disability pensions under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), improved Public Distribution System services, and food security schemes such as the Antyodaya Anna Yojana and Annapurna Yojana.

The move is also expected to accelerate long-pending infrastructure projects in tea and cinchona garden areas. Development works including rural roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), housing projects under PMAY-Gramin and PMAY-Urban, worker housing facilities, reliable electricity supply, and sanitation initiatives under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin can now be implemented more effectively. Development planning and execution are also likely to proceed without administrative or jurisdictional hurdles.

Bista stated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and with the support of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, concrete steps are being taken to address the concerns of the Darjeeling hills, Terai, and Dooars. He said the welfare and development of tea garden and cinchona garden workers have been given priority, with efforts focused on improving their quality of life and expanding access to government assistance programmes.

Expressing optimism about future developments, the MP said the latest decision marks the beginning of a new phase of inclusive development for tea and cinchona garden communities, adding that more positive initiatives for workers and their families are expected in the coming days.