Tea garden workers in West Bengal often face difficult living conditions with low wages and no proper housing facilities. To address this, the West Bengal Government launched the Chaa Sundari Scheme on 17th September 2020. The scheme aims to provide free homes and financial support to tea workers in North Bengal, ensuring better living standards, higher wages, and overall social upliftment. With a budget allocation of ₹500 crores, this scheme is a strong step towards improving the welfare of thousands of tea garden families.
Overview
This scheme plays a vital role in enhancing the lives of tea garden workers by providing permanent housing and improving their economic condition. Here is a quick overview:
| Feature | Details |
|---|
| Scheme Name | West Bengal Chaa Sundari Scheme 2025 |
| Launched By | West Bengal Government |
| Launch Date | 17th September 2020 |
| Target Group | Tea Garden Workers in Northern West Bengal |
| Benefits | Free housing and financial aid for construction |
| Allocated Budget | ₹500 crores |
What Is The West Bengal Chaa Sundari Scheme?
The West Bengal Chaa Sundari Scheme is a welfare housing project launched by the state government, especially for tea garden workers. Most tea workers live in small, temporary huts made of mud and bamboo, which are unsafe during heavy rains and storms. This scheme aims to solve their housing problems by constructing strong, permanent houses for them
Current News On The Scheme
The tea sector has recently reported noteworthy transformations enabling tea workers to improve their productivity. These shifts seek to enhance income levels and boost the economy of the region. Below are the most recent events:
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Wages Raised: The daily wage of tea pluckers has been increased from 67 rupees to 176 rupees as part of the efforts of the state government.
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Resurgence of Tea Estates: The state administration sanctioned the restart of three previously shuttered tea estates in the region, namely, Madhu, Bundapani and Surendranagar, which are situated within the Dooars region.
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Political Context: The government scheme intends to regain the support of the people in North Bengal for the Trinamool party as elections approach, while providing the trumpeter to curb the impacts of the BJP on the region.
What Is The Eligibility Criteria Of The Chaa Sundari Scheme?
For the Chaa Sundari Scheme, there are some conditions that one has to fulfil. These conditions assist in making sure the scheme targets the tea garden employees in need of housing assistance.
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The applicant has to be a resident of West Bengal.
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The applicant must have been an employee in a tea garden.
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Land should be owned or rented by the government for construction purposes.
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What Is The Objective Of The Chaa Sundari Scheme?
By giving them a safe and secure home, the government aims to remove their struggles of living in poor housing conditions.
Here are the major objectives of the scheme:
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To provide permanent and safe houses: The scheme replaces weak huts with pucca houses, ensuring that tea workers live in secure shelters.
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To improve living standards: With better housing, families can enjoy improved hygiene, comfort, and basic facilities.
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To ensure health and safety: Strong houses protect workers from natural disasters, extreme weather, and health issues caused by poor living conditions.
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To give social security and dignity: Owning a permanent house boosts the confidence of workers and gives them respect in society.
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To support the tea industry indirectly: Happier and healthier workers can contribute more effectively to the tea sector, which is important for West Bengal’s economy.
What Are The Benefits Of The Chaa Sundari Scheme?
The Chaa Sundari Scheme is beneficial to the tea garden workers as it helps them to improve their living conditions. The following are the significant benefits of the scheme:
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Support for Housing: For tea workers who do not own a house, provision of free homes or assistance in the construction of a house.
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Subsidised Rations: Issuance of essential commodities at subsidised rates.
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Increased Wages: A big jump in the daily wage from ₹67 to ₹176.
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Economic Upliftment: Better standards of living for tea workers, especially those in the tea belt of North Bengal.
What Are The Application Process Of The Chaa Sundari Yojana?
Workers of tea gardens who qualify for the Chaa Sundari Scheme can go through the application process quite easily. Just make sure you fill out the application correctly and attach the necessary documents. Here’s how you can apply for the Chaa Sundari Scheme:
Step 1: If you wish to gather the form for the Chaa Sundari Scheme, go to your local District Office where the Housing Department has stationed some officials. The form will be provided to you free of cost.
Step 2: Make sure that the details you fill out in the application form are correct, and also attach the needed documentation
Step 3: After you are done filling out the application, submit it alongside the required documentation to the District Office in your area.
Step 4: The Housing Department will check the applications and see how many beneficiaries are eligible. The selected beneficiaries will then be made public.
Step 5: Applicable beneficiaries will get SMS alerts regarding their selection.
Step 6: Beneficiaries who were accepted and approved will be able to get funding fast, as it will be sent directly to their bank account.
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What Are The Documents Required For The Chaa Sundari Yojana?
To apply for the Chaa Sundari Scheme, you need to submit certain documents to prove your eligibility. Make sure all the documents are correct and up-to-date before applying. Here is the list of required documents:
Conclusion
The Chaa Sundari Scheme is a meaningful step by the West Bengal government to improve the lives of tea garden workers. By giving them safe homes, it not only solves their housing issues but also uplifts their dignity, health, and social status. In the long run, this initiative strengthens the tea industry by ensuring a stable and motivated workforce.
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