Tripura government is keen to restore the lackluster tea industry into its old state when investors from different corners of the country showed their interest in Tripura tea, said Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Friday.
Addressing the thanksgiving programme organized at Durgabari tea estate—Bamutia, Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb said, “for decades in the name of protecting the interest of tea garden workers they are used for narrow political gains. In the prolonged Left regime, the tea industry that has tremendous potential to back a state financially was destroyed. On the other hand, when BJP came to power in Tripura real efforts were made to ensure social security of the tea garden workers”.
Lambasting the Left for its anti-industrial attitude, Deb said, they (Left) never thought of growth and industrialization. “Beyond political gains, they have never thought of anything. A host of initiatives have been undertaken to make sure that people working in the tea gardens can be brought under the ambit of social security. The basic amenities like housing, potable water and health insurance cover can be extended to the people who work hard in the tea gardens. We have also increased daily wages to Rs 176 keeping the present situation in mind”, said Deb, adding that no one has been asked to walk in streets braving scorching heat for all these benefits.
Deb said, the Rs 90 crore project aims at providing the benefits to the tea garden workers irrespective of political affiliation. “Under the guidance of PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji, we are committed to the holistic development of the state”, he added.
Apart from Deb, Newly elected BJP Rajya Sabha MP and BJP state President, Dr. Manik Saha, Industries and commerce Minister Shri Manoj Kanti Deb, local MLA Krishnadhan Das and Chairman of Tea Development Corporation Shri Santosh Saha and other office bearers were present during the event.
