E Arun
Port Blair, Dec 31: Hundreds of workers of Bankrupt ‘Andaman Timber Industry’ today protested infront of Raj Niwas of Andaman and Nicobar Islands demanding release of their dues to the tune of Rs. 2.72 crores.
Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray the lone Member of Parliament today led the protest, which was attended by more than 800 former employees of ATI and their family members.
The workers demanded for early release of their third installment dues, comprising Gratuity, VRS Compensation amount, Earned leave, Bonus, CPD Salary and allowances to the tune of Rs. 2,73,61,574 of 823 employees, consisting 674 workers,129 staffs and 16 officers.
In 1960 Andaman Timber Industries Ltd. had opened a plywood industry at Shore Point area of South Andaman but was closed down on 9th Oct 2000 all of a sudden with the excuse that the company has gone bankrupt.
Though the Administration had then agreed to negotiate with the company and ensure payment of all the employees but out of three installments only payments of only first two installments have been paid to employees till date.
“I urge the Lt. Governor to discuss the issue with the ATI management, workers’ unions and concerned Pradhan and ensure early release of amount to the affected families,” the Member of Parliament told media persons during the rally.
Later, Mr. Ray, the MP, Adi Narayan, Pradhan, Shore Point and ATI Karmachari met the Lt. Governor at Raj Niwas and discussed about the issue and demanded on the due payment of ATI employees.
“The LG has assured us that the Managing Director, ATI will be called to Andaman and Nicobar Islands for discussion,” the MP told ‘Andaman Sheekha’ after coming out of Raj Niwas today.
The Andaman Timber Industries was closed down due to non-availability of sufficient quantity of logs (timber) required for plywood production.
Infact, the ATI management could foresee the effects that the May 2002 Apex Court judgement on Forest Case would be having on the Islands vis-a-vis recommendations of Sekhar Singh Commission Report.
Therefore the assertion that bankruptcy led to closure of company does not hold much water. The fact is management held the “workers dues” as ransom to extract even the last penny from the islands.
Can the management deny that the compensation amount of Rs 3.03 crores received from PMB was meant to be paid to the workers (retirement dues) which they pocketed? The ATI management must come forward and settle the workers retirement dues immediately.
In light of the latest developments in the matter before Apex Court, the A&N Administration has an important role to play and it must play that pivotal role.