People's Democracy

Closure Of Two NJMC Mills Protested

B Prasant

THE Bengal unit of the CITU has protested against the decision of the BJP-led central government to close down two PSU’s -Alexandra and Union mills - of the NJMC.  The closure of the two mills will cost 4500 workers their livelihoods.

The Bengal CITU has described the decision to pull down the shutters on the two NJMC-run mills as most unfortunate.  The CITU leadership has clarified to say that the decision to close down the two mills formed part of the deliberate ploy of the management, acting on the advice of the central government, to gradually make the PSU’s fall sick so that closure could be brought about as per the general plan of disinvestment of the PSU’s.

It may be recalled how the BIFR has repeatedly issued alerts to the NJMC management to utilise its installed capacity to the full and not to encourage cannibalisation of the existing machinery.  The management would not bother and go to the extent of remaining passive to the rampant corruption that went on to sap the efficiency of the two organisations.

It may also be recalled how back in July 1994, tri-partite agreement took place between the ministry of textiles, the management and the TU’s and it was declared that the central government would initiate all necessary measures based on person-per-tonne production estimates to revive the two mills.

Instead of initiating any steps as required under the tri-partite agreement , the government has now, based on a certain kind of “findings” submitted by a research institute, declared that the two NJMC units are no longer viable and must be closed down.  The Bengal CITU has challenged this decision of the central government and has decided to launch a strong movement to prevent the closure of the two NJMC units.