Lok Sabha Debates
Need To Restore The Supply Of Rice And Wheat For Tea Garden Workers From Fci’S ... on 25 August, 2004
nt> Title: Need to restore the supply of rice and wheat for tea garden workers from FCI’s Siliguri Depot in West Bengal. –Laid.
SHRI D. NARBULA (DARJEELING): The Tea Industry in North Bengal is in a very bad shape for the last few years despite the efforts of the Government of India and the Government of West Bengal to revive the Tea Industry by exploring all possibilities to bring back the industry in good health. On its part the State Government allotted rice and wheat from its quota for supplying to the tea garden workers and their dependants from the North Bengal Depot of Food Corporation of India (FCI) at Siliguri. This came as a great relief and the arrangement continued for several years. However, in a surprise move the Regional Office of FCI, Kolkata have directed the District Office of FCI at Siliguri to stop the supply of rice and wheat from the North Bengal Depot forthwith for reasons best known to them. The order further states that the rice and wheat against the State Government allotment have to be procured from any Depot of FCI in South Bengal. This decision of FCI has only added fuel to the fire for the already aggrieved tea garden workers of North Bengal. I may mention here that the distance of 350-400 kms. between North Bengal and South Bengal will not only entail additional financial burden for transportation but also create many other problems to the already sick tea industry of North Bengal.
I urge upon the Government to intervene in the matter immediately and direct the FCI authorities at Kolkata to withdraw the order and restore forthwith the earlier arrangement of releasing State Government’s quota of rice and wheat for tea garden workers from their Depot at Siliguri.