By Agartala Correspondent | Tripura 24.in AGARTALA | April 4, 2026
AGARTALA: In a decisive move to secure their legal and financial rights, hundreds of workers under the banner of the Tripura Jute Mill Joint Movement Committee organized a massive “Gan-Deputation” (mass deputation) today. The workers marched to the office of the Managing Director (MD) of the Tripura Jute Mill, submitting a collective “re-attraction” letter (memorandum) demanding the immediate disbursement of arrears and benefits that have been pending for decades.
The protest began with a colorful and spirited procession that wound through the streets of Agartala before converging at the mill’s administrative headquarters.
A Decades-Long Struggle for Justice
The core of the dispute centers on the implementation of the Fourth Pay Commission recommendations and other service benefits effective from January 1, 1996. Despite favorable rulings from the High Court of Tripura and the Supreme Court, the workers allege that the management has consistently delayed the full payment of dues.
Key Figures of the Settlement (As per latest Court Affidavit):
- Total Beneficiaries identified: 1,637 workers.
- Already Paid: 407 workers.
- Remaining Claimants: 1,231 workers still awaiting their dues.
- Estimated Liability: Approximately ₹153 crore is required to settle all claims, while the mill currently holds about ₹38 crore in its accounts.
12-Point Charter of Demands
The Joint Movement Committee, led by Convener Dhanmani Singh, presented a detailed memorandum to the Managing Director, highlighting twelve critical areas for immediate action.
Primary Demands Include:
- Immediate Payment: Clearing all outstanding wages and arrears for the remaining 1,231 workers.
- Transparent Documentation: Mandatory issuance of Pay Slips, IPS (Income Processing Summaries), and Service Clearance Certificates to all beneficiaries.
- Error Rectification: Correcting discrepancies in the disbursement of Leave Salary and House Rent Allowance.
- Security of Housing: Immediate withdrawal of eviction notices against workers living in mill quarters and providing housing for homeless staff.
- Interest on Dues: Payment of a 6% interest on the delayed arrears, as per court guidelines.
Management’s Commitment
The mass deputation follows a recent hearing at the High Court of Tripura on March 30, 2026, where the mill management provided a written undertaking. The MD assured the court and the workers that:
- Dues for 528 employees (those who retired up to 2010) will be cleared by April 30, 2026.
- The remaining 703 workers will receive their payments within the next six months, following the sale of surplus mill land to the state government to generate the necessary ₹115 crore deficit.
Leadership Speaks
Addressing the gathering, Dhanmani Singh and other senior leaders like Narayan Chandra Debnath and Shibani Das Chakraborty warned that today’s deputation is just the beginning.
”Our workers have waited for 30 years. Many have passed away without seeing their rightful earnings. While we acknowledge the court’s recent timeline, we are here to ensure that the management does not use ‘financial crisis’ as an excuse again. If the April 30 deadline for the first batch is missed, the Joint Movement Committee will launch an unstoppable statewide agitation,” stated Dhanmani Singh.
The GRP and local police maintained a heavy presence at the mill gates to ensure the protest remained peaceful. The Managing Director, after receiving the memorandum, assured the delegation that the process of verifying pay slips for the first batch of 528 workers is already underway.
