With Jagiroad Paper Mill declared bankrupt, hopes of employees squashed

A Correspondent

MORIGAON, July 17: The Narendra Modi-led BJP government, by declaring the Jagiroad Paper Mill and Cachar Paper Mill under HPCL as bankrupt, has added to the woes of the employees of the paper mills. Due to the perfidy of both the Central and State governments, altogether 1,600 employees of Jagiroad HPCL are facing a dark future as chances of re-opening the paper mill are slim. The production of the Jagiroad Paper Mill had stopped since 2015-16. This once famous paper mill was established in 1973 at Jagiroad in Morigaon. It became famous in Asia for its large production.

This paper mill provided employment to the local unemployed youths and was also a good source of revenue for the government. The paper mill was running well till 2007 but due to alleged corruption by a section of the officers and employees of the paper mill, the dominating attitude, exploitation and conspiracy by outsiders against the officers, the employees and the labourers had forced the mill to stop its outturn in the year 2015-16 and it moved towards closedown.

The officers and employees of the mill moved from pillar to post to save the mill from bankruptcy, but failed. All efforts of the employees came to naught when the authority of the head office, Kolkata, instead of providing a helping hand, went ahead with its plan of domination.

On the other hand, the 1,600 employees of the mill are struggling to make both ends meet by working in hotels, restaurants and private schools. The first industry of Jagiroad Span Silk Mill Ltd was established in 1962 and it had been running well. But due to apathy of the then Congress government, the mill was closed down in 1991. Thereafter, another polyester mill was established in 1982 at Jagiroad but the mill did not run for a long time and its production was stopped in 1985 during the tenure of the AGP government. It was finally closed down in 1992.