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No signs of reopening even 2 years after closure
Two years have elapsed since the closure of Nizam era Sirpur Paper Mills, which rendered 3,000 regular and 1,250 contract workers jobless. Citing huge losses, the management closed down the paper mill on September 27, 2014.
Paper mill workers in penury
Adilabad: Two years have elapsed since the closure of Nizam era Sirpur Paper Mills, which rendered 3,000 regular and 1,250 contract workers jobless. Citing huge losses, the management closed down the paper mill on September 27, 2014. Seven poverty-stricken workers died of ill-health in the last two years. Four workers committed suicide unable to run their families. Despite several representations to the State government by the affected workers, no steps have been taken to reopen the historic paper mill set up at Kagaznagar in 1938.
Narrating their woes to The Hans India, Shabbir, a worker, alleged that the management took a unilateral decision on closure of the paper mill. Another worker Chandrasekhar said the TRS Government failed to come to their rescue. Congress leader S Ganapati said the paper mill management did not follow the due procedure before declaring the lock-out. No notice was given to the labour union prior to declaration of the lock-out. As per labour laws, half salary should be paid to the mill workers during the lock-out period. But the paper mill management was not paying anything to workers, he said.
Kamalamma, wife of Kouda Shankar who committed suicide by setting himself ablaze, said: ``I am running the family by selling vegetables. I forced my children to discontinue their studies unable to bear the educational expenses. The families of suicide victims got no aid from the State Government. We are living in penury.’’
The workers are finding it extremely difficult to make ends meet. Many workers are toiling in hotels and other business establishments for meagre wages. Some of them are plying hired autos to eke out a living. Rajanna, a worker, said ``I go to Mancherial everyday by Bhagyanagar Express by waking up at 4 am. If I get work, I earn a daily wage of Rs 200 to run my family. Otherwise, I am forced to return home empty handed.’’
The medical services at the 63-bed ESI hospital at Kagaznagar are also hit following the closure of the paper mill. Srinivas, a worker, said: ``The ESI hospital authorities are refusing to extend medical services to the mill workers following its closure.’’ Despite repeated assurances by people's representatives, the government has not initiated any concrete steps to reopen the paper mill. Starvation deaths may take place in Kagaznagar, if the mill is not reopened immediately, the workers said.
By T Anjaiah
