Govt decision of one-time financial aid cannot divert us from our main demands, says Paper Mill Union
সরকারের এককালীন আর্থিক সাহায্য আমাদের মূল দাবি থেকে সরাতে পারবে না, বলল কাগজ কল ইউনিয়ন

January 09: The Assam Government on 9 January has announced one-time financial aid upto Rs 1 lakh to the children of employees of two defunct Nagaon & Cachar HPC Paper Pills for education purpose. Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in a press meet in Janata Bhawan made this announcement.

Expressing their reaction on the announcement made by the Finance Minister, Manobendra Chakraborty President of JACRU, Nagaon & Cachar Paper Mills, HPC, Assam and Ananda Bordoloi, General Secretary, JACRU issued a press release. The trade union leaders stated, “In our view, the ‘Kumbhakarna‘ government has woken up from their deep slumber only after our children were forced to beg on the streets to collect money to meet their educational expenses.”

They stated that the ‘dole’ announced by the state government is a ploy to divert the main issue of reviving the paper industries and to release the 36 months pending salary of the employees including statutory dues. They aired grievance on the fact that 60 workers have died till now out of which 3 of them have committed suicide.

The union leaders categorically stated that the attempt to appease the children of the paper mill employees by declaring one-time financial aid would not have any affect on the legitimate claims related to pending salary of 36 months & statutory dues pending like Provident Fund, Gratuity, Pension, LIC etc from Feb 2015 and will not prejudice any rights of the workers in any way, whatsoever.

Manobendra Chakraborty said, “We stand by our demands for revival of the two paper mills and release of our pending salaries. The central and state government should respect our legitimate demands at the earliest.”