SILCHAR, India (From news reports) -- Employees of Cachar and Nagaon Paper Mills of the state of Assam, the two units of Hindustan Paper Corporation which is a government of India enterprise, have threatened that they would jump into Barak river if their salaries and other dues for the last 13 months are not cleared before Namami Barak.

"We do not oppose Namami Barak, but what is the use of organizing such a gala event before people who are starving and have nothing to eat," choked Dolly Dey, wife of Nabendu Dey who is an employee of Cachar Paper Mill, while addressing media-persons at a press-meet held at a hotel of this town on Tuesday.

They are passing days in extreme poverty and are living on the verge of starvation caused by the non-payment of their salaries. In this regard, the family members of the employees of both the Mills will stage a 36-hour dharna in front of the statue of Shaheed Khudiram Bose on November 17 and 18. Family members of the employees, Jaya Debnath, Anita Chakraborty, Supriti Dey and Snigdha Chakraborty could not hold their tears and choked. It is pertinent to mention here that till date, 15 deaths have occurred in both Cachar and Nagaon. Out of this, 11 are from Cachar and the rest from Nagaon. A woman in Nagaon has also committed suicide as they could bear such impoverished life and pathetic conditions.

"It has been seen that only reports and news are being made on us but actions are not taken by anyone," Swapnali Dutta Choudhury, daughter of Utpal Dutta Choudhury, an employee of Cachar Paper Mill said. The employees have urged upon the government and the concerned authorities to clear their dues and revive the mill so that none starves. "We do not need sympathies but concrete steps to resolve the issue," Swapnali Dutta Choudhury added.

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