84th employee of paper mill dies without salary since last 51 months

April 9: 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 51 months, employees of the two HPC Paper Mills are embracing death one after another. On one hand, Assam is celebrating its biggest festival of democracy, while on the other, the employees of the now defunct paper mills are moving ahead towards the valley of death.

On Thursday, another employee of now defunct Cachar Paper Mill breathed his last. The deceased employee Fariz Uddin was an operator of the mill and was suffering from cancer. He died on 8 April, 2021. He failed to afford the desired treatment due to non-payment of salary since last 51 months and ultimately passed away. “Without money, we were unable to afford good treatment of Fariz Uddin, 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. Fariz Uddin 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 51 months? How many deaths will wake up the govt from their deep slumber?”  With this, the death toll at HPC Paper Mill has now reached 84 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 51 months.