Tuesday, Mar 05, 2024 09:15 [IST]

Last Update: Tuesday, Mar 05, 2024 03:41 [IST]

GTA announces Shramik Bhawan in Siliguri for tea garden workers

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.

Sikkim at a Glance

  • Area: 7096 Sq Kms
  • Capital: Gangtok
  • Altitude: 5,840 ft
  • Population: 6.10 Lakhs
  • Topography: Hilly terrain elevation from 600 to over 28,509 ft above sea level
  • Climate:
  • Summer: Min- 13°C - Max 21°C
  • Winter: Min- 0.48°C - Max 13°C
  • Rainfall: 325 cms per annum
  • Language Spoken: Nepali, Bhutia, Lepcha, Tibetan, English, Hindi