GUWAHATI: As many as 52 employees of the HPC (Hindustan Paper Corporation) Paper Mills in Nagaon and Cachar have died owing to starvation and lack of medical care in the wake of non-payment and salaries for the past 26 months and failure to revive the mills owned by the government.
“The death toll has increased to 52 with the latest reported from Nagaon paper mill. Besides, many more are suffering from critical diseases and are in a helpless condition owing to penury,” Manobendra Chakraborty, chief convener of the Hindustan Paper Corporation (HPC) Mills Revival Action Committee, told The Shillong Times on Thursday.
Disgruntled members of the committee, who have staged a series of protests in the past few months, now sense that the mills could land in the hands of private players any time.
“This government has betrayed us and we apprehend that the national assets (mills) could be handed over to private players,” Chakraborty said.
Congress national president, Rahul Gandhi had in a recent election rally assured to revive the mills if the party came to power after the Lok Sabha elections.
“This will turn into an election issue for sure. At least in Nowgong and the two Barak Valley Lok Sabha constituencies, the ruling party has its work cut out as people have felt betrayed and are now fed up,” he said.
The committee chief convenor however hoped that the mills would be revived in the days to come. “Whatever the poll outcome, our struggle will continue till the mills are revived for the future generation,” he said.
Production in Cachar Paper Mill at Panchgram has been suspended since October 20, 2015 while operations at Nagaon Paper Mill at Jagiroad came to a halt on March 13, 2017.