JACRU to Restart Agitation Demanding Revival of Paper Mills

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, Jan 15: The Joint Action Committee of Recognized Unions (JACRU), Nagaon and Cachar Paper Mill has announced to restart their agitation for the revival of the two HPC (Hindustan Paper Corporation) paper mills in the State.

The JACRU will take out a candle march on January 25 to pay homage to 79 workers of HPC paper mills who lost their lives after they couldn't afford treatment due to non-payment of salaries for last 48 months. The following day on January 26, the JACRU will stage a sit-in demonstration from 11 am to 2 pm in front of Statue of Khudiram Bose in Silchar.

Talking to The Sentinel, JACRU president Manobendra Chakraborty said, "Beside repeated commitments by both Central and State governments, till date two Heavy National Paper Industries of Assam has not been revived as a result of which two lakh youths who were directly or indirectly dependent on the industries have lost employments. Moreover, the scope of employments for upcoming unemployed youths will be completely jeopardized if the industries are not made functional to protect employments, while economy and development of the Barak and Brahmaputra valleys will face irreparable damage."

Chakraborty highlighted that an amount of Rs 4,141 crore became traceless though the present Government which stated on the Parliament that this huge investment was utilized in HPC during the period of 2014-18 accounting years.

"Unfortunately, beside our repeated demands neither the Central nor the State government disclosed the utilization of such huge funds while both the paper mills Assam remain inoperative during the same period and the salary of the workers/ employees remains unpaid," he lamented.

He stressed that the Government being the 100 per cent owner of the industries and principal employers of the workers is duty-bound to pay salary. But in flagrant violation of statutory laws the salary and statutory dues has not been paid for last 48 months imposing inhuman torture on the workers, he said.

"Paradoxically, while the Government is lauding their initiatives for development in the State, 79 workers were forced to die out of which four committed suicide due to financial stress, psychological harassment, starvation and lack of required medical treatment," said Chakraborty.

Further, the JACRU president claimed that the Government is hostile on their immoral acts and killing time in all Courts, NCLT and refraining from submitting their reply on remedy knowing the fact that many more deaths will come into force if immediate action is not initiated to release pending dues to the workers.

"The prevailing situation is turning worse day by day and it is apprehended that Right to Life guaranteed by the Constitution of India has completely negated by the Government concerned. All the workers will die one by one as the Government is attempting to wash its responsibilities to save the lives of the workers and their families, though guaranteed by the Constitution of India," Chakraborty asserted.

Considering the gravity of the situations, a meeting of the workers was held on January 10, 2021 where the JACRU took decision to stage demonstrations on January 25 and 26.

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