BY TC News Desk
Agartala, 11th August 2024: The workers and pensioners of Tripura Jute Mills are grappling with severe financial hardships, living day-to-day under the weight of prolonged deprivation. The root cause of this crisis lies in the unpaid salaries and allowances, legally due as per the recommendations of the 4th Pay Commission, which was to be implemented from January 1, 1996. However, despite numerous legal victories, the workers’ rightful claims remain unsettled, leading to escalating tensions and looming protests.
The situation dates back to September 4, 2019, when the then Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court, Ajay Rastogi, ruled in favor of the workers in a case filed by the Tripura Chatkal Sramik Union. The court directed the State Government and the Tripura Jute Mill Authority to implement the 4th Pay Scale for all employees who were on the payroll as of January 1, 1996. This directive included provisions for increased salary, gratuity, and leave-salary benefits, all to be settled within six months. However, despite the court’s clear orders, the implementation has been fraught with delays and legal battles.
Dhanamani Sinha, the Secretary of the Tripura Chatkal Sramik Union, expressed frustration over the endless delays. “The appeal filed by the concerned authorities against the High Court’s judgment was dismissed by the Division Bench of Justice Indrajit Mahanty on September 21, 2022. Even the Supreme Court, on September 4, 2023, dismissed the petition filed against the Division Bench’s judgment and ordered the execution of the judgment within four months. Yet, no significant progress has been made,” Sinha lamented. He further accused the authorities of deliberately delaying the payments, stating, “This is a clear attempt to deny workers their rightful dues by dragging the process through endless legal wrangling.”
In response to these delays, contempt of court cases have been filed against top government officials and Jute Mill authorities. The most recent court hearing on July 10, 2024, saw the authorities fail to present accurate documents and affidavits, prompting the court to issue strict orders for submission within three weeks. An affidavit was eventually filed on August 7, 2024, but it is alleged to contain inaccuracies and attempts to mislead the court.
According to the affidavit, the production at the jute mills has halted due to financial constraints, including a lack of funds and mounting debts. The authorities claim that efforts are underway to secure loans against the property of the jute mill to settle the dues. This year, the government allocated ₹30 crore, which was used to settle the dues of 191 workers. However, ₹55.33 crore is still required to clear the dues of the remaining 227 workers. The affidavit also stated that while the authorities requested eight months to settle the dues, the court granted only eight weeks.
Sinha criticized the affidavit, stating, “The court ordered that all 1,647 workers employed on January 1, 1996, be paid their dues as per the judgment. However, the affidavit fails to mention this and instead prioritizes payments to a select few. The actual cost to implement the court’s judgment, including six percent interest, is around ₹250 crore. The affidavit is an attempt to evade responsibility through deception and concealment.”
The situation is dire, with many workers and pensioners facing severe health issues due to the lack of funds. “About a hundred workers are suffering from serious illnesses like cancer, kidney damage, heart disease, and paralysis. More than a hundred recipients have died since the court’s verdict. The authorities have shown no compassion towards these sick, elderly, or deceased workers’ families,” Sinha added.
In a bid to force the government to act, all workers and pensioners plan to gather at Swami Vivekananda Maidan on August 27, 2024, for a massive protest. They demand immediate settlement of their dues from the Hon’ble Finance Secretary of Tripura Government. “This is just the beginning,” Sinha warned. “If our demands are not met, we will escalate our struggle to the next level.”
The ongoing crisis at Tripura Jute Mills underscores the urgent need for the government to address the workers’ grievances and ensure justice is served. The workers, many of whom have given decades of their lives to the mill, now find themselves fighting for their survival, hoping for a resolution that seems perpetually out of reach.
