Silchar Congress organises free medical camp for employees of Cachar Paper Mill

February 3: Silchar District Congress Committee (DCC) organised a free medical camp for the employees and their family members of the now defunct Cachar Paper Mill, Panchgram on Monday. Doctors examined the patients and distributed medicines free of cost.

Speaking during the occasion, Congress leader Sushmita Dev said, “We have organised this health camp for the unfortunate employees & their dependents who are devoid of their salary for the last 3 years. These people can’t be denied the fundamental right to life. The present Union government is unable to provide so.”

As regards the present situation of the paper mill, Ms. Dev said, “We have filed a writ on behalf of the mill union in the High Court. We have basically asked in the writ the reason for denying them the amount of Rs.200 crore kept in their Provident Fund (PF). If this PF amount is released, then each employee will get lakhs of rupees which would enable themselves to survive. The next hearing in this matter is scheduled on 25 February.”

Taking a dig at the BJP government, the Chief of All India Mohila Congress said, “The government which gives the slogan of Sabka sath, Sabka bikash has utterly failed to keep up to its promise. The 2 MPs of the ruling party and also MLA’s of BJP have not come to meet with the employees of the mill. This I feel is a matter of great shame. What is done now with the employees is a clear breach of human rights.”

Regarding the stand of the Union Government, Sushmita Dev criticised the move of the government in privatising nationalised undertakings. She said, “Indian government is selling public sector companies like MTNL, BSNL, IDBI and more recently LIC. This is because post demonitisation and implementation of GST, this government is unable to raise any further revenue. The future of this country under this government is very bleak.”

Expressing his gratitude to the District Congress, Manobendra Chakraborty, leader of the paper mill union said, ” We pay profound regards for extending humanitarian support to HPC, employees & their families.”

Apart from Ms. Dev, also present during this health camp on behalf of district Congress were its District President Pradip Kr. Dey, former Minister Ajit Singh, Partha Ranjan Chakraborty among others.