‘Thanks PM for we are alive without getting salary for 60 months,’ laments defunct paper mill union leader

Jan. 10: “Do convey our thanks to our Prime Minister. We the employees of the two paper mills at Nagaon and Panchgram in Assam have been denied our salaries since last 60 months. Since then, we are passing our lives in abject poverty and are living from hand to mouth. Even after the death of 99 of our colleagues, we are still alive and perhaps awaiting death!” This was stated by Manobendra Chakraborty, leader of Joint Action Committee of Recognised Unions (JACRU) on Monday.

On being asked that the paper mill union leaders on 29 September, 2021 thanked the state government for arriving at a solution of the long standing issue of the two defunct paper mills, Manobendra Chakraborty said, “JACRU then made this statement thanking the state government after we got a written assurance about a Relief Package of around Rs 570 crore for the workers & employees of the 2 now defunct mills. But after that, three months have elapsed, but we are still in the dark. So I made the comment to inform our Prime Minister that we are still alive!”

Cachar Paper Mill and Nagaon Paper Mill run by Hindustan Paper Corporation Limited (HPCL) have been non-functional since 20 October 2015 and 13 March 2017 respectively. The employees of the two mills have not received salaries for the past 60 months. After that much water have flown through Barak and Brahmaputra, but the issue of revival of the 2 paper mills at Cachar & Nagaon and/or disbursement of salary and other dues remained unsolved.

Finally, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on 29 September in a tweet stated, “Finally reached agreement with the workers and employees of Hindustan Paper Corporation to resolve long pending issues of their salaries and dues. Discussion lasted over 4 hours in my office and concluded at 2 AM.”

Finally reached agreement with the workers and employees of Hindustan Paper Corporation to resolve long pending issues of their salaries and dues.Discussion lasted over 4 hours in my office and concluded at 2 AM. Back to home now. Will leave for north Assam tour at 8 AM

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) September 28, 2021

On the same day (29 Sept, 2021), Joint Action Committee of Recognised Unions (JACRU) conveyed heartfelt gratitude to Assam chief minister and said that the marathon meeting was a successful one in solving a long standing problem. Union leaders Ananda Bordoloi and Manobendra Chakraborty further informed that the meeting decided to award a Relief package of around Rs 570 crore to the workers & employees to save the lives of the employees of the paper mill.

JACRU entered into an agreement with the Chief Minister of Assam, which bears the following major points:

Manobendra Chakraborty on that day stated, “JACRU with Associated Unions/ Association believe that under the bold & dynamic leadership of Hon’ble CM Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma the relief package would be disbursed immediately as agreed & the workers would be allowed to stay at their respective Quarters without any disturbance till the disbursement of Relief is completed in full.”

However, on 10 January, 2022, Manobendra Chakraborty informed that they are yet to get the relief package as promised by the state government on 29 September, 2021. Meanwhile, he stated that 14 employees have died since the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led BJP government was formed in Assam.  Till now, the two defunct HPC Paper Mills at Nagaon and Panchgram has witnessed 99 deaths including 4 suicides in the absence of salary for 60 long months!