Paper Mill Union of Nagaon & Cachar seeks clarity on ‘partial’ relief amount sanctioned by govt

May 6: Assam Cabinet has sanctioned an amount of Rs.308.75 crore as part of the 700-cr relief package for clearing the dues of employees and workers of Cachar Paper Mill and Nagaon Paper Mill run by Hindustan Paper Corporation Limited (HPCL). The Joint Action Committee of Recognized Unions (JACRU) of the Nagaon and Cachar paper mills has welcomed the State Cabinet’s decision to release an amount of Rs 308 crore in accordance with the Government’s agreement with the employees’ unions.

However, JACRU president Manobendra Chakraborty and General Secretary Ananda Bardoloi claimed that the relief package amount agreed upon in the agreement between the State Government and the unions/ associations of the Hindustan Paper Corporation Limited on 28 September, 2021, was actually Rs 570 crore. In this connection, JACRU has sought a clarification from the state government about the mismatch in the amount sanctioned.

In a letter addressed to Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, JACRU wrote, “In conveying our heart best gratitude to your kind honour for finalizing the agreed Relief Package for Rescue of the Struggling Workers / Employees of HPC on 28-09-2021 we would like to mention here that the Government of Assam has taken over possession & control on the Assets of HPC Nagaon & Cachar Paper Mill of 29-03-2022 peacefully thus as per agreement the Relief Package for Rescue has to be disbursed & implemented in its letter & spirit immediately for rescue of the Workers & Employees of HPC Cachar & Nagaon Paper Mills, Assam.”

“We enclose herewith the agreement / MoU dated 28-09-2021 reached under your dynamic leadership between the Govt. of Assam & Unions/ Associations of HPC for ready reference and immediate execution. We shall be highly obliged for your urgent intervention to save the lives of the workers and employees struggling for survival,” added JACRU in its letter to the CM.

Further, as per the commitment of the state government, a list of 100 suitable employees of the now defunct two paper mills has been prepared. These 100 persons will be provided job by the state government within next one week. This was informed by Keshab Mahanta, Health Minister, Government of Assam on Tuesday.

The Government of Assam has already taken over the assets of Nagaon Paper Mill and Cachar Paper Mill. The price was lowered several times and the Assam government finally acquired the mills at Rs 375 crore. 

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.