Tuli, August 13 (MExN): The blockade of the National Highway-2 by the Worker’s Union of the Nagaland Paper & Pulp Company (NPPC) Ltd Tuli has been relaxed.
President of the NPCC Workers Union, Nokenlenlemba informed that this decision was taken following negotiations with the DC Mokokchung, wherein it was resolved to find a solution to the conundrum within 20 days. The blockade began on August 11 and was enforce till August 13, Sunday.
Meanwhile the Langpangkong Students’ Conference (AKM) and the Ao Students’ Conference (AKM) have asked the concerned authorities to address the concerns of the Nagaland Paper & Pulp Company (NPPC) Ltd Tuli workers union.
The AKM acknowledged the “considerate attitude of the NPPC Ltd. Workers Union and mediation of the district administration,” while asking all stakeholders to work with “utmost genuineness so as the problem persisting will be solved once and for all.” The AKM asked the concerned authority to take steps on the charter of demand proposed by NPPC Ltd workers union.
It asked the state government to genuinely work towards rehabilitating the lone industry at Tuli and the HPC authority to respond as to why Paper Mill at Tuli could not be revived and rehabilitated even when Government of India had sanction crores of rupees for the same. It further demanded that the HPC authority release 9 months worth of salary to the workers. It also urged civil societies and organizations to come forward in support of the NPPC Workers Union, while asserting that the AKM would not remain silent if the authority fails to act.
The LKM meanwhile condemned the “callous and irresponsible” attitude of the Nagaland government towards the revival of the NPPC Ltd, which is supposed to be only heavy industry in Nagaland.
“It is very painful and disheartening that even the salary for workers of the mill did not release for the last ten months. It is unthinkable that an employer of an industry did not give salary to its employees for almost a year. It is hard to imagine the situation of the workers’ family and their children surviving without getting salary for months together. It amounts to human rights violation on the part of the Nagaland government as well as the Hindustan Paper Corporation,” LKM lamented.
While expressing its solidarity with the workers’ union of the NPPC Ltd., the LKM appealed the government of Nagaland to be sensitive towards the need of revival of the paper mill and plight of the workers. It also asked all concerned Naga civil societies and citizens to support the cause of employment of Naga youth and economic production in Nagaland by reviving the only remaining industry in the state.
