Assam Youth Icon Zubeen Accuses Government of Playing Political "Game"

Guwahati, January 10, 2019:

"They are trying to pull wool over the people's eyes", says Manabendra Chakraborty, President, JACRU, Nagaon & Cachar Paper Mills reacting to the Assam Government's announcement of one-time benefits to the children of the paper mill employees, who have been laid off.

On the same day as Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's announcement that the paper mill employees' children would get monetary benefits to aid in their education, the Government's liquidator had reportedly put up an ad in a Kolkata newspapers, inviting bids to sell the

"Himanta Biswa's announcement is not a solution as its a one-time. Moreover, the workers are due Rs 530 crores in 36 months' salary. Their one-time support feels likes a slap on our faces, an insult", Chakraborty says.

Talking to Inside Northeast, Chakraborty stated that the notice was given in a Kolkata newspaper announcing the sale of the paper mill's properties. "They had published auction notice to sell 3 of our properties. They will soon sell the quarter, then the land...the Government will sell out our land. The land is worth Rs 2,000 crores; it is a big scam."

"If they had released the salary, we could have educated our children ourselves. They have not even appointed an advocate, whereas the Kerala Government has rescued a similar mill in the state. Where is the money allotted (4,141 cr) by the Central Government for the HPC? We demand a CBI, we have approached the CAG, to no avail", rues Chakraborty.

Chakraborty, in his indignation, took to Facebook, to express his disdain at the Government's move. He wrote that on the same day that Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced onetime benefits for the HPC employees' children, the sale of the properties was also announced. His post also caught the eye of Assam musician and youth icon who, sharing a snip of the Facebook pose, termed the whole thing as a "game."

It may be mentioned that the children of the mill workers came to the public limelight after they were seen begging on the streets on New Year's Day, while the rest of the world was celebrating. Seeing the plight of the children, the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) had assured financial assistance.

Yesterday, Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the children of a paper mill employee will get Rs 1 lakh if they pursue PhD, medical, engineering and similar professional courses, Rs 75,000 if they pursue post-graduation in universities and similar institutions, Rs 50,000 for graduation, polytechnic and similar courses, Rs 25,000 for a higher secondary student and Rs 10,000 for those up to class X. However, the children of the retired employees will not receive any benefits.

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