Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma distributed the relief package to ex-employees and workmen of Nagaon Paper Mill and Cachar Paper Mill of Hindustan Paper Corporation Limited (Liquidated) in a programme held at Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra in Guwahati on July 7. This humanitarian gesture of the Assam Government taken through this relief package will cost an amount of Rs. 810.02 crore and would benefit 2751 employees of both the mills including 2003 regular employees and 748 contractual workers.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Dr. Sarma said that the Assam Government took this step considering the hardship the ex-employees, workmen and their families had to endure due to non-operation of the mills for last 5 to 6 years. When the BJP led government first came to power in the state it took several steps such as providing free electricity, scholarships to children of the former employees etc. In the second term, decision was taken to buy both the paper mills following guidance from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to address the issues faced by the families of the ex-employees, Dr Sarma said. He informed that during this period the state government held several round of discussions with the employees union of both the paper mills and took decision to pay net salary and wages to the employees and workmen that were due till the time of closure of the paper mills, providing employment to eligible employees of the mills in state government.
Dr Sarma said that under this relief package a trust would be created with financial outlay of Rs. 25 crores and this would be utilised for various purposes like medical benefit, educational support, social assistance etc. of the ex-employees and workmen.
He announced that the Assam Government would put efforts for opening a new paper mill at the plot of land of Cachar Paper Mill and the land of Nagaon Paper Mill would be utilised for expansion of capital region. He said that the state government is also planning for construction of an eight lane super highway for speedy transportation between Guwahati and Jagiroad.
The Chief Minister urged the ex employees of the paper mills to make judicious use of the money that they have received today. He also mentioned that whenever any anomaly in any PSU comes to knowledge it must immediately be brought to the notice of the government so that appropriate measures can be taken to stop such anomaly. Noteworthy that while the state government has already initiated steps for providing employment to 84 eligible ex-employees of the mills in the state government, the Chief Minister today distributed appointment letters to 66 such employees on the occasion
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