May 4, 2022:

In a move that would come as some relief for the  employees of Hindustan Paper Corporation Limited, the Assam government will be releasing a relief fund of Rs 308.75 Cr.

The said decision was taken in a State Cabinet meeting on Tuesday (May 3) where the cabinet approved the release of Rs 308.75 crore as part of the Rs 700 crore relief package to the employees of Nagaon Paper Mill and Cachar Paper Mill of HPCL.

The remaining amount of Rs 700 crore will be utilised in clearing the dues of employees and workers of HPCL.
This aims at providing further support to the employees of the paper mills  in line with the commitment of the State Government, the government said in a release.

A general relief package of Rs 700 crore, which includes settlement of various outstanding dues of employees and workers of HPCL’s assets at Nagaon and Cachar paper mills, was offered by the state government last year. The package was subsequently accorded approval in a Cabinet meeting held in September 2021. 

It may be noted that the Assam government had on March 28, 2022, taken over the assets of HPCL paper mills at Jagiroad and Panchgram at a cost of Rs 375 cr.

The Cachar Paper Mill at Panchgram in Hailakandi district and Nagaon Paper Mill at Jagiroad in Morigaon have been non-functional since October 2015 and March 2017 respectively. Employees of the mills have not been paid salaries since then.

It may be added that as many as 103 employees of the mills have lost their lives so far, including 4 who died by suicide.