West Bengal Labour and Transport Minister Arjun Singh has arrived in North Bengal to address long-standing issues concerning Cinchona plantations and closed tea gardens. Following instructions from the Chief Minister, the minister reached Bagdogra Airport on Monday to hold discussions regarding minimum wages and pending labour welfare issues.
The minister is scheduled to conduct a high-level meeting in Darjeeling today to address the problems faced by workers in Cinchona plantations. This meeting will include officials from the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), the Darjeeling District Magistrate, the Director of Cinchona, and representatives from the Labour Department.
The primary goal of this discussion is to resolve worker grievances and determine the future of the plantation. Regarding the broader crisis in the region, the Labour Minister confirmed that the state government is actively working to reopen closed tea gardens.
The government has already conducted several meetings to address this situation and is currently taking necessary actions to ensure the revival of these gardens. Official efforts are ongoing to find a sustainable solution for the workers who have been affected by the closures.
During his visit, the minister also commented on several ongoing state issues, including investigations into illegal activities. He spoke about the recovery of narcotics in Malda and mentioned that further investigations into illegal funds are expected.
The minister emphasized that the state government remains focused on addressing both administrative and law-and-order concerns as part of his official visit to the region.