Death toll reaches 104 as 1 more employee of paper mill die without salary since last 64 months

June 6: 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 64 months, employees of the two HPC Paper Mills are embracing death one after another. Now the death toll has reached 104 as another employee of the now defunct Panchgram paper mill embraced death on Sunday.

Another employee of the defunct Panchgram paper mill of the Hindustan Paper Corporation Limited (HPCL) died  on 5 June, 2022 taking the death tally since their closure to 104. Hifzur Rahman, 54, a resident of Badarpurghat was suffering from high diabetes, but failed to afford desired treatment due to financial crisis owing to non-payment of salary. “Without money, his family was unable to afford good treatment and he ultimately breathed his last due to the apathy of the govt,” said one of the union leaders.

Manabendra Chakraborty, trade union leader of the mill said, “This is the 19th death since the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led BJP government was formed in Assam. These are not general deaths. Hifzur Rahman 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 64 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 104 including 4 suicides.

Chakraborty further said, “A Govt. of India Owned Industries has turned to Valley of Death as like as holocaust. On 28 September, 2021 an agreement of ‘Relief Package’ for rescue of workers was arrived between Government of Assam & Workers Representatives under leadership of Chief Minister, Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma. However,unfortunately, the relief package has not yet been implemented, and in dire distress the employees and embracing death one after another.”

The Government of Assam took over the assets of Nagaon Paper Mill and Cachar Paper Mill on 28 March, 2022. The Assam government has paid an amount of Rs, 375 crores and will be distributed by the liquidator as per the norms of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) 2016. The remaining amount of Rs. 700 crores will be utilized in clearing the dues of employees and workers of HPC.

The mill at Nagaon is spread over 1765 bigha, 33 katha and 24 lessa of land while the one at Cachar occupies 2916 bigha, 1 katha and 7 lessa land, totaling to 4681 bigha, 34 katha and 17 lessa. HPC”s Cachar unit in Panchgram stopped functioning on October 20, 2015, while the Nagaon mill in Jagiroad stopped operations on March 31, 2017. No salary was paid to the staff of Cachar and Nagaon units since January and March of 2017, respectively.

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 63 months inspite of the assurance of the state government to give them their due.