BJP on tea workers

[Tea Plantation Workers - Related News]

Kailash Vijayvargiya, the BJP observer for Bengal, today said the Centre would take initiatives for the benefit of workers in shut and ailing tea gardens in north Bengal. "The central government is exploring options keeping in mind how it can help distressed tea workers in the region and what can be done about other closed and sick estates. As we came to know that workers were not receiving benefits under central schemes, we have decided to request the central ministries concerned to directly implement such programmes in the gardens. This would reduce delay in implementation of the schemes," Vijayvargiya, who was on a day ­long trip to Siliguri for party meetings, said at a news conference here this afternoon. Asked about possible tie ­ups with other political parties before the Assembly polls, he said: "We have not taken any decision ... It is too early to comment."