Cachar paper mill workers stage protest
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT
SILCHAR, June 3: Problems of Panchgram Paper Mill, Cachar seems to be on a never-ending spree. Members and workers of the paper mill have demanded for an early resumption of productive activity in the mill. It seems that the fate of the causal workers lies in the dark since even after repeated notices; there has been no increase in their wages. Instead of that, the workers are being termited on regular basis. On June 1, the members and workers of Audyogik Mazdur Sangha organized an 8 hours long bandh. The bandh was called due to the reasons mentioned above. The BSS’ paper mill unit called began the protest from 730 am and lasted until 430 pm. The workers reflected their angst against the system by voicing various slogans. They blocked the entrance of the mill and sat down for 8 hours at a stretch. All the members and workers of the Sangha actively joined the strike and made it a successful one. Joydeep Chanda, president, Panchgram Paper Mill Causal Worker’s Unit, Sadhan Roy, assistant president, Panchgram Paper Mill Causal Worker’s Unit and Bipul Das, worker voiced one thought. They informed that on January 4, 2016, the government of Assam had promised to fix daily wage of a causal labour at Rs. 350 per day. However, no change has taken place regarding any increment in the wages of the causal workers.
On the contrary, without issuing any notice, several workers from the various branches of the mill have been termited. Causal workers are helpless in such a condition since they depend upon their daily wage earnings. They have asked the government to resume the various productive activities associated with the mill, increase in the wages of the causal workers and adoption of new tools, techniques and techniques of production so that large amount of output can take place within a short period of time. They have warned that if demands are not fulfilled, then more democratic rebellions and revolutions will take place.
The bandh went peacefully since Panchgram police was active throughout the period. It must be mentioned here that the fincial condition of the mill is not good and therefore the workers were requested not to go for such bandhs.
