"Tea is both Centre and state subject. But the Centre is not aware of closed tea gardens here, or alleged malnutrition deaths," Oram, who was at Gayerkata to inaugurate a tribal boys hostel in Jalpaiguri district said.
The Centre would have extended help had the West Bengal sought it, he said while replying to questions by reporters.
A total 23 tea gardens in the area is not functioning for over six months causing thousands of tea workers to face an uncertain future.