82nd employee of paper mill dies without salary since last 50 months

March 12: 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 50 months, employees of the two HPC Paper Mills are embracing death one after another. When Assam is going to witness its biggest festival of democracy, the employees of the now defunct paper mills are moving ahead towards the valley of death.

On Monday, another employee of now defunct Nagaon Paper Mill breathed his last. The deceased employee Mohan Hazarika (55) of HPC, Nagaon died on 8 March, 2021 due to kidney failure. He failed to afford the desired treatment due to non-payment of salary since last 50 months and ultimately passed away. “Without money, we were unable to afford good treatment of Mohan Hazarika, who ultimately breathed his last due to the apathy of the government,” said one of his relative.

Manabendra Chakraborty, trade union leader of the mill said, “These are not general deaths. Mohan Hazarika 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 50 months? How many deaths will wake up the govt from their deep slumber?” He also appealed to the people to refrain from voting to power the BJP government.  With this, the death toll at HPC Paper Mill has now reached 82 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 50 and 48 months respectively.