Kalchini (Alipurduar), March 4: Deepa Das Munshi’s claims that the Bengal government had been sleeping on festival grants for workers of closed tea gardens had very few takers.

The Congress MLA from Goalpokhor in North Dinajpur, who is a member of the Tea Board, visited four closed and one open garden in Kalchini block today to collect first-hand information on the plight of workers.

Throughout her tour, Das Munshi tried to convince the workers that the Bengal government was responsible for the current state of affairs in the tea sector and not the Centre. “The state is yet to disburse the festival allowance, but you have already got the central funds,” the MLA told workers at Bharnobari while citing an example of the Bengal government’s alleged indifference.

Later, she told reporters at Kalchini that unless the state submitted a concrete project, the Planning Commission could do nothing.

Earlier, Das Munshi had visited Bharnobari, Raimatamang, both closed estates, and the open Dalsingpara garden. “The condition of workers has shocked me and I will submit a report to the Assembly,” she said. Very few workers had come out to see Das Munshi. Most of them had the same refrain as Alphans Oraon of Bharnobari. “We are tired of VIPs. Even after every visit, our condition remains the same.”

Citu report

In Siliguri, Citu leaders today admitted that its constituent trade unions lacked the initiative to take up a consistent enrolment drive in the tea industry. Today was the fourth day of the state conference of the CPM’s labour wing. According to the Citu report, of the 4,95,500 workers in the gardens, 1,02,487 are its members.