93rd employee of paper mill dies without salary & dues since last 56 months

Aug 30: Amid the the wake of the official liquidator issuing a revised e-auction notice at a throwaway price for sale of the two paper mills at Nagaon, deaths of the mill employees continued unabated. Recently, State Chief Minister also stated that it would not be possible to revive these two mills 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 56 months, employees of the two HPC Paper Mills are embracing death one after another.

On Sunday, another employee of now defunct Nagaon Paper Mill breathed his last. The deceased employee Akshay Kumar Mazumder had a severe heart attack and died at the age of 62 years on 29 August, 2021 at 6.30 PM. He was suffering from cardiac diseases, but failed to afford the desired treatment due to non-payment of salary since last 56 months. “Without money, we were unable to afford good treatment of Akshay Kumar Mazumder, who ultimately breathed his last due to the apathy of the govt,” said  one of his relatives. It needs mention here that prior to him, another employee Arup Burhagohain of Nagaon Paper Mill died on 26 June, 2021.

Manabendra Chakraborty, trade union leader of the mill said, “This is the 8th death since the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led BJP government was formed in Assam. These are not general deaths. Akshay Kumar Mazumder 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 56 months and also they are deprived of retirement dues? How many deaths will wake up the govt from their deep slumber?”  With this, the death toll at HPC Paper Mill has now reached 93 including 4 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 56 months.

Also Read: Delhi High Court orders Union govt to file affidavit & express its intent on revival of 2 HPC Mills in Assam