Kolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday announced a compensation of Rs 50,000 each to 133 migrant labourers who have been brought back to the state from Kashmir on Monday.
Banerjee said that the financial assistance of Rs 50,000 would be provided to all the labourers under 'Samarthan' scheme. They would also be able to avail the benefits of various development schemes run by the state government. 'Samarthan' was introduced by the Mamata Banerjee government to provide financial assistance to the victims of demonetisation.
It was learnt that the Chief Minister also instructed her government to set up houses for the migrant labourers under 'Banglar Bari' scheme for their rehabilitation.
The decision was taken after the Chief Minister convened a meeting with her Cabinet colleagues including state Finance minister Amit Mitra. Banerjee had a detailed discussion with the other Cabinet ministers on how the migrant labourers who had to leave their jobs in Kashmir and return to Bengal, can be brought under various social schemes.
It was also decided that the government would ensure that the family members of all the migrant labourers can avail foodgrains at Rs 2 per kg under 'Khadya Sathi'. The District Magistrates of various districts have already been asked to ensure that the labourers get the benefits of all the state government schemes. The officers from the respective districts will visit the houses of the labourers to take stock of the situation. They would also ease the difficulties, if any, to provide the benefits of the schemes.
It may be mentioned here that the state government had initiated the process of returning the migrant labourers after five labourers were brutally killed by terrorists in Kulgam district recently. A labourer who sustained bullet injuries during the attack is still undergoing treatment at Srinagar Hospital.
As many as 133 migrants from Bengal returned home on Monday. As soon as they landed at Kolkata railway station, a majority of them expressed that they would not go back to Kashmir again for work. The labourers who have returned to the state are mostly from North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur, Malda, Murshidabad and Birbhum.