02/06/2026
*Office of Raju Bista*
*Press Release*
*2nd of June, 2026*
Today, I joined the meeting to explore the implementation of the “PM Cha Shramik Yojana” and other important issues relating to the Tea Industry in our Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars region.
The tea industry remains the largest employment-generating sector in North Bengal. Yet, in the past 15 years, the Trinamool Congress government destroyed it. Nearly 30 tea gardens have shut down and nearly hundred more are sick.
The PM Cha Shramik Yojana (PMCSY), announced in the Union Budget 2021-22, aims to improve health, education and welfare of tea garden workers, with special focus on women and children. Though fully centrally funded, the previous TMC regime refused to implement it in North Bengal. Under the leadership of Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Suvendu Adhikari ji, the BJP government in the state will now fully implement PMCSY, work actively to address workers issues and ensure their welfare, and take concrete steps to revive the tea industry.
The exploitation of the Tea garden and Cinchona plantation workers have been the worst under Trinamool Congress. They are the only two sectors in West Bengal where the TMC refused to implement the Minimum Wages Act or the New Labour Codes. The government has formed a committee to work out the modalities for the implementation of the New Labour Codes at the earliest, so that the workers can be given dignified wages, and better living and working conditions.
Further, the Department of Labour, which had remained in a dormant state under Trinamool Congress, have been tasked with actively addressing the concerns of the workers, especially pertaining to protecting their wages, PF and other statutory rights.
We also discussed how the Tea Board can immediately help revive Darjeeling tea. Strict enforcement of Geographical Indication (GI) protection and Mandatory Certificate of Origin (CoO) is essential to stop tea from abroad being sold and labelled as “Darjeeling Tea”. The Tea (Marketing & Distribution) Control Order and the new Tea Mark Certification Scheme (launched 24 March 2026) must be rigorously enforced to protect the domestic tea industry.
We have requested the Tea Board of India to implement the Tea Development & Promotion Scheme (TDPS) and support the holistic development of the tea industry in our Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars region.
We are committed to saving the tea industry and securing the future of our workers.
The meeting was attended by Sh. Nish*th Pramanik Ji, Hon’ble Minister NBDD, Sh. Vishal Lama Ji, Hon’ble MoS, Hon’ble MPs Sh. Manoj Tigga Ji (Alipurduar), Dr. Jayanto Roy Ji (Jalpaiguri), Sh. Kartick Chandra Paul Ji (Raiganj), Deputy Chairman Tea Board Shri C. Murugan Ji, Hon’ble MLAs from the region, and senior officials of State and Central Governments.
*Raju Bista*
*Member of Parliament, Darjeeling and*
*National Spokesperson, BJP*
