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78th employee of paper mill dies without salary since last 48 months
Dec. 25: The word ‘death’ is sending a chill of horror in the corridors of the now defunct Nagaon and Panchgram Paper Mills. On one hand, when the procession of deaths due to COVID-19 is going on unabated, on the other, being deprived of salary since last 48 months, employees of the two HPC Paper Mills are embracing death one after another.
The deceased employee Dhananjoy Pathak, 60 of Nagaon Paper Mill died on 24 December, 2020 due to cerebral stroke. He failed to afford desired treatment due to non-payment of salary since last 48 months and ultimately passed away. “Without money, we were unable to afford good treatment of Dhananjoy Pathak, who ultimately breathed his last due to the apathy of the government,” said one of his relative.
Dhananjoy Pathak retired from service on October 2020, but did not get a single penny as part of his retirement dues.
Manabendra Chakraborty, trade union leader of the mill said, “These are not general deaths. Nirod Dhananjoy Pathak joined the long procession of deaths of our employees without getting any proper treatment. How can you afford treatment when you are not paid your salaries since last 48 months? How many deaths will wake up the govt from their deep slumber?” With this, the death toll at HPC Paper Mill has now gone upto 78 including 3 suicides.
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 48 and 46 months respectively.
