The Bengal government has introduced a social security scheme for non-workers living in the tea belt of north Bengal.

Each non-worker aged 18 years or above in a tea garden will be brought under the Bina Mulya Samajik Suraksha Yojana (BMSSY). While the beneficiary needs to make an annual payment of ₹55, the government will contribute ₹660 to the scheme.

“If a person is 20 years old, he or she will get a one-time payment of ₹2.72 lakh when he/she turns 60. For others, the disbursement will be proportionate to their age at the time of enrollment,” said a source in the administration.

If the beneficiary dies in an accident, the next of kin will receive ₹2 lakh. In case of a normal death, the kin will be paid ₹50,000.

“The scheme has a provision under which a person is paid a one-time compensation if he or she suffers disabilities because of illness or an accident. The compensation will depend on the degree of disability,” the source said.

The enrolment of people under the BMSSY has started in Alipurduar, which has 61 tea estates. The district has over 1.30 lakh people who live on tea plantations and aren’t attached to various kinds of work in the gardens.

On Tuesday, the district administration enrolled non-workers under the
welfare scheme in the
Demdima and Majherdabri tea gardens.

“The launch of the BMSSY is an important decision made by the state government
for non-workers of tea gardens. At 60, they will get a lumpsum amount and in case of any unfortunate incident, the families will receive compensation,” said Nakul Sonar, the chairman of the Trinamool Cha Bagan Sramik Union.

Amit Das, the assistant labour commissioner based in Birpara, said enrollment drives would be conducted in every tea garden.

“Similar initiatives will be taken in other tea-producing districts of the state. The idea is to include the maximum possible number of non-workers in the BMSSY,” said Das.