Tripura Jute Mill workers stage protest over pay

FROM A CORRESPONDENT

Agartala, Jan 9: Over one thousand workers of Tripura’s only Jute Mill is fuming over non-implementation of a High Court order that asked the state government to treat them at par with other Public Sector Undertakings so far pay and allowances are concerned.

A general meeting of the workers and officers of the mill at workers barrack in Hapania in the outskirts of Agartala on Sunday expressed grave concern over the state government’s attitude and decided to launch agitation demanding the implementation of the High Court order.

The meeting also decided that they will consider approaching the high court again to draw its attention over non-implementation of the order.  All the workers and officers cutting across political affiliation attended the meeting.

According to official sources an additiol Rs 185 crore will be required to disburse all the arrears of the workers as per High Court order.

The fince department has made this assessment but not yet took any step though four months has already been lapsed since the High Court passed the order, said the worker union leaders.

The Jute Mill went in production in 1978 after the first Left Front government led by Nripen Chakraborty came to power but could never produce as per its capacity and the only medium scale industry the state ever had always remained as a loss making unit.

The Jute Mill was planned in the mid-seventies by the Congress government led by Sukhamoy Sengupta as Tripura was one of the major jute producing State at that time. It was visualized that once the mill start production, the jute growers also will get a boost but due to the state government’s failure to run the mill that dream seen by Sukhamoy Sengupta remained elusive.

The recruitment policy of the Left Front government is blamed for the failure of the industry.

It shifted from the origil plan of recruiting local and outside workers at 50:50 ratios till the locals acquire expertise. Instead they recruited all the workers from the state who don’t have any experience.

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