Nagaon Paper Mill employee attempts suicide on the eve of Modi’s visit to Assam

December 24: The employees and their family members of both the Nagaon and Cachar Paper Mills are passing their days in abject poverty. They have not received their salaries since the last 24 months. In the absence of salary, they are even deprived of the basic necessities of life. Many of the employees and their dependents have in the meantime committed suicide.  Inspite of repeated assurances both from the centre and the state, nothing positive has been achieved and there seems to be no concrete plan for the revival of these two paper mills.

On Monday, an employee of Nagaon Paper Mill at Jagiroad under Morigaon district on Monday attempted suicide by jumping off a mobile network tower. The person identified as Kathsingh Bordoloi was suffering from depression after the paper mill was shut down followed with bankruptcy. A huge crowd gathered at the mobile tower spot along with the employee’s family pleading the person to get down. Meanwhile, a district administration team reached the spot and somehow got the get the person down from the tower.

On the flip side, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Assam on Tuesday to inaugurate the Bogibeel bridge. This has led to a festive atmosphere in the state. BJP leaders and supporters are rejoicing. On the flip side, the employees of the two paper mills are giving up their lives one after another being driven by abject poverty. At Panchgram Paper Mill, a mourning rally by the mill employees and their family members were taken out on Monday late evening on the eve of Modi’s visit to the state.