Pan Shop- New way of livelihood for Paper Mill Employee

The employees of Jagiroad paper mill have no other option left than to earn their livelihood by opening a pan shop as the paper mill has been shut down by the government.

Bubul Sarma, who was an employee of the Nagaon paper mill, is now running a pan shop to earn the livelihood. He was a first-grade operator but after the mill has been shut down, he has no other option left than to start his own business in order to secure the family.

His retirement would have been in October 2020 and he was leading a decent life with his wife and a son and two sisters. But since the paper mill was closed since 2016, he faced many obstacles in life as he has many responsibilities towards his family.

Talking to Pratidin Time, Sarma said, "I have opened the pan shop along with a tea stall to earn the bread and butter. The government fails to provide any assistance to the employees after the paper mill was shut down and we don't even get the pension. So, I have started this tea stall and earn Rs. 300-400 per day. This is a very minimal income but I don't have other options."

Expressing anger over Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Sarma said it would have been better had there is no chief minister than to be a chief minister like Sonowal.