The district administration of Alipurduar gave away keys of houses built for tea workers under a state scheme to around 800 families in two tea estates.

The distribution was made within a fortnight of chief minister Mamata Banerjee’svisit to Alipurduar. On January 19, Mamata, at a public distribution programme, specifically mentioned “Cha Sundari,” a free housing scheme introduced by her government for north Bengal tea workers.

“Unlike the central government that makes hollow promises, we have started distributing free houses to tea workers who do not have a house oftheir own,” she had said.

Sources in the administration said in the first phase,2,969 houses, some of which have been built while the rest are under construction, would be distributed in Torsha, Dheklapara, Mujnai and Lankapara tea estates.

“On Tuesday, keys of 315 houses were handed over to workers in Mujnai. Today(Thursday), 317 workers ofDheklapara and 476 workers of Torsha got their keys. In all,1,127 houses have been handed over to the workers so far,” said a source in the administration.

Each house is on a 1.25-cottah plot, with two bedrooms,a living room, a kitchen, a toilet and a verandah. The state has spent Rs 5.43 lakh on each house.

Alipurduar is the third district after Darjeeling and Kalimpong where Trinamu ldoesn’t have an MP or MLA.

“For the first time in the history of the tea industry, a free housing scheme has been launched for workers who otherwise stay in quarters of tea companies,” said a Trinamul leader.