Financial bonanza for ATCL employees

GUWAHATI, June 5: Dispur has released Rs 99 crore to the beleaguered Assam Tea Corporation Ltd (ATCL) to clear its various financial liabilities including pension benefits to retired employees.

State Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said release of funds earmarked in the budget for 2018-19 will benefit 16,133 employees of ATCL to get their various financial benefits including pension and gratuity. Such financial benefits could not be given to ATCL employees due to acute financial crisis faced by the corporation.

The move will particularly help 594 employees of ATCL who continued to work even after their retirement since the company could not provide them retirement benefits. These employees can now avail retirement benefits and quit working for ATCL.