Indore: Perin Daji writes to PM in Gujarati about woes of ex-mill workers

Octogenarian Perin Daji, wife of Communist Party of India leader and former MP late Homi Daji, has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Gujarati seeking his intervention in the struggle of former Hukumchand Mills' workers to receive their dues.

Over 5,000 former mill workers are struggling for the past 24 years to get their dues worth Rs229 crore.

She has also sent a typed letter in English to President Pranab Mukherji, requesting him to intervene and ensure that 5,895 ex-workers get their dues as early as possible.

The letter mentions the struggle of late Homi Daji, an eminent trade union leader and politician, for the socio-economic betterment of city's seven textile mill workers and labourers.

"Being a Parsi, my mother tongue is Gujarati. That is why I wrote to him in Gujarati thinking that he will speed up the matter. Ex-workers are desperate now," she said.

Explaining the ex-workers plight, Daji in hand-written letter stated that more than 1,000 ex-workers have died during the last 24 years and many are living in poor condition. Besides, many ex-workers need money to meet their medical expenses.

She also explained how thousands of workers lost employment as city's textile mills closed one by one.

Spread across 48.50 acres, Hukumchand Mills closed in 1991.

As HT reported earlier, the ex-workers gathered on the mill premises every Sunday to explore ways to ask the state government to help pay their dues.

According to trade union leaders, ex-workers' dues stand at Rs229 crore and along with interest the amount comes to Rs800 crore. The dues include salary, gratuity, retrenchment compensation and bonus.