Chaa Sundari Housing Scheme for Tea Garden Workers in West Bengal Budget 2024-25

West Bengal government has made a new announcement regarding Chaa Sundari Housing Scheme for tea garden workers. While presenting the West Bengal Budget 2024-25 on 8 Feb 2024, cha-sundari extension scheme is given primary focus. Read this article till the end to know about cha sundari scheme which aims to provide affordable housing to tea garden workers. 

This Chaa Sundari scheme would be populist in the near future as this covers a large section of tea garden workers population.

Chaa Sundari Extension Scheme in West Bengal Budget 2024-25

On 8th Feb 2024, Finance Minister presented WB Budget 2024-25 in which FM said "As fulfilment of our commitment made in last budget, policy has been formulated for providing land rights to the tea garden workers. Till date, following the resumption of more than 2,500 (Two Thousand Five Hundred) acre area of unutilized/surplus land of the tea gardens, homestead pattas up to 5 decimals have been granted to around 23,000 (Twenty-Three Thousand) tea garden workers. The tea garden workers are being provided financial assistance of Rs. 1.20 lakh each for construction of their dwelling houses under Cha-Sundari Extension Scheme". 

FM added "So far, under the ongoing Cha-Sundari Scheme, construction of 4,022 single storied dwelling units in 17 sites in Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri districts have been approved and construction of 1,171 single storied dwelling units have been completed. This landmark initiative will undoubtedly be a significant step towards empowering the tea garden workers, alleviating their sufferings and elevating their standard of living".

While elaborating scheme details, FM said "CHA SUNDARI Housing Scheme is aimed at providing housing facilities to the permanent tea garden workers of closed/sick tea gardens, where management is not providing appropriate residential facilities and the workers do not possess pucca houses of their own. So far construction of 4,022 single storied dwelling units in 17 sites covering 07 Tea Gardens in Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri have been approved and construction of 1,171 single storied dwelling units at Dheklapara-(327), Mujnai-(324), Toorsa-(456) and Manabari-(44) has been completed. Work is going on at present for construction of 2,851 single storied dwelling units in 11 sites covering 6 Tea Gardens in Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri Districts. State Government has recently launched ‘Cha Sundari Extension Scheme’ to provide financial assistance of Rs. 1.20 lakh to each tea garden worker who has been alloted land parcels for construction of their dwelling house.

Chaa Sundari Housing Scheme in West Bengal Budget 2023-24

On 15 February 2023, Finance Minister presented WB Budget 2024-25 in which FM said "Under the ‘CHAA SUNDARI’ Housing Scheme, aimed at providing housing facilities to the permanent tea garden workers who do not possess pucca houses of their own, construction of 4,022 single storied dwelling units in 17 sites covering 7 Tea Gardens in Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri have been approved.1,171 dwelling units in 6 sites in Dheklapara, Toorsa, and Manabari have been completed and will be handed over soon".

Roll Out of Chaa Sundari Scheme

On 20 January 2023, the state govt. of West Bengal has rolled out Cha Sundari housing scheme on the same day of launch of Medhashree Prakalpa Scheme. Chief Minister herself handed over the keys of houses to several tea garden workers. In the rally, she said that tea garden workers have a difficult life and face enormous hardship in their daily lives with the parents forced to leave their children at home.

To address the issue, the government has constructed a number of crèches where they can leave their children in a safe and comfortable environment while they go to work. In addition, WB government will build more health centres, increase the number of ambulances, and deploy more doctors and nurses to improve the health infrastructure.

Card for Tea Garden Workers in West Bengal

While addressing the rally on launch of Medhashree scholarship scheme, West Bengal CM also launched a card for the tea garden workers, through which they can avail all the schemes and benefits. Her govt. has always given priority to cater needs of people. WB state govt. has initiated several schemes over the years for alleviating the hardship of the people. Lakhs of people have benefited from the many welfare schemes run by her government.

CM mentioned "Our relentless hard work will continue for the uplift of our people, and our determination to serve them will only grow stronger". Numerous obstacles may come in the way of progress and development, "but we will sail through them and provide a holistic life for people".

About Chai Sundari Scheme 2024

Below is the complete details of the Hasir Alo Scheme, Chai Sundari Scheme and other schemes announced in the previous West Bengal budget:- 

• Hasir Alo Free Electricity Scheme - Hasir Alo Scheme has been launched to provide free electricity for consumers with quarterly consumption upto 75 units. The Hasir Alo Scheme 2024 would benefit nearly 35 lakh poor families. 
• Chai Sundari Housing Scheme - Chai Sundari Scheme has been build to ensure availability of houses for all permanent tea garden workers. The affordable housing scheme is going to benefit around 3 lakh workers in 370 tea gardens in the state.
• Jai Johar ST Pension Scheme - Scheduled Tribe (ST) community people above 60 years of age who are not getting pension from any agency would be covered under Jai Johar Scheme 2024. Such ST category people would be given Rs. 1,000 per month as pension.
• Taposili Bandhu Prakalpa SC Pension Scheme - Scheduled Caste (SC) community people above 60 years of age who doesn't get pension from any agency would be covered under Taposili Bandhu Prakalpa Scheme 2024. Such SC category people would be given Rs. 1,000 per month as pension.