Valley of death! 74th employee of paper mill dies without salary since last 45 months

Oct. 16: 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 45 months, employees of the two HPC Paper Mills are embracing death one after another.

On 16 October, Taiyab Ali Laskar (59), another employee of HPC Panchgram breathed his last at around 4.45 AM at his residence at Chiporsangan Part -I .He was suffering from partial paralysis followed by cerebral stroke but not in position to afford desired treatment due to non-payment of salary. Expressing anguish & grief, his family members told that living without salary for such a long period has made their lives miserable. Without money, they were unable to afford any treatment of Taiyab Ali Laskar, who ultimately breathed his last due to the “apathy of the government.”

Manabendra Chakraborty, trade union leader of the mill said, “These are not general deaths. Both of them have 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 45 months? How many deaths will wake up the govt from their deep slumber?” With this, the death toll at HPC Paper Mill has now gone upto 74 including 3 suicides.

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 45 and 43 months respectively.