GUWAHATI: The employees of Assam Polyester Limited (APOL), Rangia, Tulsibari have threatened to self-immolate themselves if the mill is not revived. The Assam Government had assured that the mill would be revived but nothing has been done so far, said the protesting employees of APOL mill.
The negligence by the state government has pushed the employees of APOL mill to take the path of protest and demonstration. On Thursday, the employees of APOL mill sat on a 12-hr fast demanding revival of the mill.
It is to be mentioned that there has been no production in APOL mill for the past three years. The mill employs around 600 people who have not received salaries for almost 1000 days now. The government has assured multiple times to revive the mill but has not taken any steps in the direction.
The unhappy employees of APOL mill have decided to start a series of demonstration until their demands are met. The employees will go ahead with road blockade, office siege and general strike to bring the attention of the government, stated APOL employees’ association president Durga Kalita, acting president Kanuram Kalita and secretary Durga Haloi.
After these series of protests, if the government still does not keep its assurance of reviving the mill, then many of the demonstrators will self-immolate themselves, threatened the unhappy employees. For this act of theirs, they will hold the government and the chief minister responsible, said the employees.
On the other hand, due to the non-payment of salaries, the employees and their families are having a tough time. They have been doing odd jobs for survival. Many families are not able to pay their medical bills while others are not able to continue with their children’s education.
Last year, the Sarbananda Sonowal led government had assured to revive the mill and had allocated a one-time Rs. 10 crore financial support. The government is also searching for a partner to revive the mill. A state public sector enterprise, APOL mill specializes in production of spun yarn. The mill is closed since December 2016 due to financial problems as it has not been profitable.
