Former Cachar Paper Mill Employee Succumbs, Death Toll Climbs to 133 Since Assam Unit Shutdowns
Silchar: In a tragic development highlighting the ongoing crisis in Assam's paper industry, a former employee of the defunct Cachar Paper Mill passed away at Silchar Medical College and Hospital on Friday. This unfortunate incident brings the total number of deceased former workers to 133 since the closure of Hindustan Paper Corporation Limited units in the state.
Details of the Latest Casualty
Tapan Kumar Dey, aged 64 and a resident of Badarpur Ghat in Cachar district, was a former worker at the Cachar Paper Mill. He suffered a severe cardiac arrest and breathed his last at Silchar Medical College and Hospital, according to official statements.
Manobendra Chakraborty, president of the Cachar Paper Project Workers' Union and the Joint Action Committee of Recognised Unions, confirmed the details of Dey's passing. Chakraborty emphasized the dire circumstances facing former employees of the closed units.
Union Leader Highlights Prolonged Financial Distress
Chakraborty revealed that employees of the shuttered paper mills have not received their salaries or provident fund payments for nearly 110 months. "Every day has become a struggle marked by stress, trauma and loss of dignity," he stated.
The union president further explained that many workers have exhausted their personal savings, sold valuable assets, and taken loans merely to survive. This financial desperation has created a humanitarian crisis among the former workforce.
Government Response Deemed Insufficient
While the Assam state government has announced humanitarian assistance packages that include financial aid and medical support, workers' representatives have criticized these measures. They allege that the government's response arrived too late and remains inadequate to address the scale of the problem.
The closure of Hindustan Paper Corporation units has created lasting economic hardship in the region, with former employees continuing to face severe challenges years after the mills ceased operations.
