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Steps to privatise Cachar Paper Mill criticised

By Correspondent

HAILAKANDI, April 28 - The Hailakandi, Cachar and Karimganj committees of the Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) have strongly protested against the Centre�s recent decision to privatise the only industrial unit of the Barak Valley, the Cachar Paper Mill of Hindustan Paper Corporation.

In a joint meeting of the three committees held here on Wednesday, all the members criticised the move made by the Centre to privatise all sick industries of the country, including the Cachar Paper Mill, and held the view that the present BJP-led NDA Government is following the steps of their predecessor, the Congress party, which initiated the privatisation of public sectors as part of their open economic system.

The meeting expressed serious concern over the present crisis in the mill. It may be mentioned here that the production of the mill was suspended in October last year on the plea of serious loss.

The meeting elaborately discussed the poor condition of the employees and workers of the mill and also expressed serious concern over their future in the event of privatisation. A large number of labourers will be jobless after privatisation and their families will be without livelihood means.

The meeting alleged that both the Central and State governments are behaving like a stepmother with regard to the Barak Valley and no step is being taken to revive the sole industrial unit of the Barak Valley. The meeting criticised the industrial policy of the Government.

They also threatened to launch a vigorous movement throughout the Barak Valley if the mill is privatised and also demanded immediate resumption of its production. The meeting was attended by Shyamdeo Kurmi, Arunangshu Bhattacharjee and Sushil Paul among others.

Meanwhile, a delegation of Assam Udyagik Mazdoor Sangha under the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh on Wednesday met the senior manager of the mill, Arindam Roy, and demanded a hike in the monthly salaries of various categories of workers on the basis of their expertise.

They also discussed the affiliation of the newly-constituted Assam Udyagik Mazdoor Sangha. The meeting was attended by president Sumesh Biswas, secretary of the HPC unit of the BMS, Mrinal Kanti Das, Sadhan Roy, Joydeep Chanda, Bijon Das, FR Mazumdar and Radhakanta Das among others.

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