DARJEELING,: Gorkhaland Territorial Administration chief executive Anit Thapa today announced the establishment of a Shramik Bhawan in Siliguri for tea garden workers from the Hills, with funds sanctioned by the West Bengal government.
The State government has allocated Rs. 14.24 crore for the project of which Rs. 3.24 crore has been allotted to commence construction, Thapa said in a press release.
The foundation stone for the Shramik Bhawan will be laid on March 7 near Darjeeling More in Siliguri, on a 20 katha land.
Thapa said the Bhawan aims to provide accommodation for tea garden workers from the Hills and their children who travel to Siliguri for medical treatment and educational purposes. Thapa added that they were fulfilling the promises they had made.
The approval letter from the West Bengal Labour department, dated March 1, confirms the financial sanction for the project, designating the GTA as the implementing authority.
Thapa, in the release, maintained that they had initially planned to build the Shramik Bhawan with of the funds collected during the Covid pandemic for tea garden workers. The funds were distributed to the workers of closed tea gardens after discussions.