West Bengal government is soon going to launch a new WB Chaa Sundari Scheme 2024. In this scheme, govt. will provide houses to tea workers of north Bengal. State labour minister Moloy Ghatak has made announcement of WB Chaa Sundari Housing Scheme on 17 September 2020. In this article, we will provide you with the complete details of Cha Sundri Awas Yojana.
In the WB Chaa Sundari Scheme, the state govt. will construct houses of 792 families who dwell in this tea estate. The state govt. has taken number of other initiatives for tea population. It includes distribution of ration to workers at subsidized rates. The announcement to start Chaa Sundari Scheme was made earlier while tabling the state budget of current fiscal year.
West Bengal Chaa Sundari Scheme 2024
Earlier in February 2020, West Bengal announced the “Chaa Sundari Housing Scheme” to provide houses to tea workers. In the next 3 years i.e 2021, 2022 and 2023, the state govt. will give funds for construction of houses for all permanent workers of tea estates without house of their own. A sum of Rs. 500 crores was allocated for the WB Chaa Sundari Scheme.
WB state govt. is playing the development card in lieu of the upcoming assembly elections. Many of these tea workers though do not have a house to call their own due to their poor economic condition. With this in mind, the State Government has introduced a scheme named “Chaa Sundari”. For more details, click the link http://aitcofficial.org/tag/chaa-sundari/
Salient Features of WB Chaa Sundari Scheme
The important features and highlights of the WB Chaa Sundari Scheme 2024 are as follows:-
| Name of Scheme | Chaa Sundari Scheme |
| State | West Bengal |
| Announced by | Finance Minister in Bengal Budget |
| Type of Scheme | Housing Scheme |
| Major Beneficiaries | Tea Garden Workers |
| Allocated Amount | Rs. 500 crore |
| Start Date | To be announced soon, delayed due to COVID-19 pandemic |
| Apply Process | To be announced soon, not known till date whether online or offline |
Hike in Tea Wages by TMC Government
A minister in the West Bengal govt. also referred to hike in tea wages since 2011 after TMC govt. came into power. Earlier, tea workers used to receive Rs. 67 as daily wages and now the state govt. will increase it to Rs 176. Soon, the wage of tea workers is likely to be revised again.
In the West Bengal state, BJP is shouting for minimum wages but in neighbouring Assam state where BJP is in power, no such wage has been fixed so far. TMC minister said that the Mamata Banerjee led state govt. is working a lot for the betterment of tea workers. In case Trinamul does not stay in power in the WB state, conditions of tea estates will deteriorate.
The WB state govt. has taken the task to facilitate reopening of 3 closed tea estates in the Dooars. The Finance dept. has approved reopening of shut Madhu, Bundapani and Surendranagar tea estates which are close for years now. West Bengal state cabinet will soon make a decision and then prospective investors would be selected for these gardens.