Bengal forms committee, can get 314 cr for tea-workers’ welfare

Kolkata: State govt has formed a committee to implement Centre's Pradhan Mantri Cha Shramik Protsahan Yojana, paving the way for the release of Rs 314 crore earmarked for the welfare of tea garden workers.The central scheme aims to support nearly 10 lakh workers in 1,210 tea gardens in Assam and Bengal through better healthcare, education and resting facilities.Officials said the scheme remained stalled in Bengal for nearly two years as the mandatory state-level committee had not been formed earlier. "The committee was a prerequisite for implementation of the scheme. The previous govt had not completed the process," a Tea Board official said.The scheme, with a total outlay of Rs 1,000 crore, is targeted at Assam and Bengal. "Two years have passed without any disbursement from the Rs 314 crore allocated for Bengal. The scheme corpus was meant for three years and only one year now remains for full utilisation of the funds," said Amit Kumar, joint secretary in the department of commerce at an event in Kolkata.Tea Board deputy chairman C Murugan said India exported 282.1 million kg of tea in 2025-26, marking a 7% rise over the previous year, with the Middle East accounting for nearly 115 million kg of shipments.