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A CORRESPONDENT
JAGIROAD: The Joint Action Committee of Recognised Unions (JACRU) Cachar and Nagaon Paper Mill, Assam, president and secretary Manabendra Chakravarty and Ananda Bordoloi respectively, held a press meet at Jagiroad on Thursday where they demanded a white paper on the Rs.4141 crore allotted for the revival of Nagaon and Cachar Paper mills.
Addressing the press meet, which was also attended by legal support provider of the employees, Deep Kalita of Dristi Foundation, the leaders said that the Union Minister of Heavy Industries, Arvind Sawant declared that the Union Government had released Rs.4141 crore from 2014-15 to 2017-18 for revival of Nagaon Paper Mill at Jagiroad in Nagaon and Cachar Paper Mill at Panchgram in Cachar.
The leaders expressed deep concern that even after release of such a huge amount, the mills had not been revived till date following which the production of both the mills stopped and several lakhs of people had to face an uncertain situation.
The leaders opined that they had no objection to privatization of the mills but before that the employees demanded release of all outstanding dues pending since the last 32 months. JACRU urged upon the government to sign a proper deal with some established and experienced private party. They further said that the government did not follow the directive of NCLAT and as such, due to starvation and lack of proper medical treatment, 57 employees had died in recent times.
The leaders admitted that they were suffering from acute financial hardship to meet the legal expenditure and in this connection they requested the people of the State to extend financial assistance. The leaders also threatened to move the Supreme Court if their demands were not fulfilled. According to sources, total liabilities of the government is around Rs.1500 crore, out of which Rs 550 crore is for the salary of the employees.