Question : Welfare of Tea Garden Workers

(a) the details of various schemes for the welfare of tea garden workers run by the Tea Board of India;
(b) the details of funds sanctioned towards the welfare of tea garden workers of North Bengal region by the Tea Board of India in the last five years;
(c) the details of the subsidies provided to the tea gardens of the North Bengal region through the Tea Board of India for the last five years; and
(d) whether there is any delay in the release of the subsidy to the tea gardens of North Bengal and if so, the reasons therefor?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
(SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)
(a): Tea Board has implemented certain welfare activities under Human Resource Development (HRD) component of the “Tea Development and Promotion Scheme” during the Medium Term Framework period from 2017-18 to 2019-20 and extended till 2020-21, aimed at improving the health and hygiene of workers, education of wards of workers and imparting training to improve skills for growers/workers.
The “Tea Development & Promotion Scheme” has been approved for implementation by Tea Board during the 15th Finance Commission period from 2021-22 to 2025-26 which has a component for the welfare of small Tea growers and their workers.

(b): Financial assistance of Rs.9.04 crore has been provided by the Tea Board under the HRD component towards the welfare of tea garden workers and their wards/ dependents in North Bengal during the last five years and current year [2016-17 till 2021-22( up to Nov, 21)].
(c) & (d) : The Tea Board disburses subsidy to the eligible tea stakeholders as per budget provisions. Financial assistance of Rs.117.14 crore has been provided by the Tea Board under the “Tea Development and Promotion Scheme” to the tea gardens of North Bengal during the last five years and current year [2016-17 till 2021-22( upto Nov, 21)].
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