Musavirr Wani SRINAGAR, Mar 2: The employees of the Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT) Chinar Watches Limited claim that the government has neglected the biggest public unit unit of Jammu and Kashmir established by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
No doubt she had established this sector to unemployment in the tackle the problem of state of J&K but till now Congress led government did not help the employees to revive it.
People believe that due to global competition, obsolete machinery and other reasons the factory which was established to overcome unemployment over- turned into loss making unit.
This prestigious unit was manufacturing four to five lakh watches per year but now the government was not paying attention towards it.
Talking to the Kashmir Times, the members of Employees Association of HMT Chinar Watches said, For the last eight months our salaries have not been released.
It is getting very tough to make our both ends meet.
We have already borrowed money from banks and other sources for day to day requirements." Ansar Ahmed, an employee said, "I still remember when people of this state used to say proudly that they are working in HMT but unfortunately now the time has come when one feels ashamed to call oneself as an employee of HMT.
"Last time we received our salaries after six months but the government released only three months' salary.
And this time eight months have already passed.
Life is becoming very hard," he said.
According to him, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh during the last meeting in August 2007 had assured the employees that the industry would be revived and all the benefits and perks would be provided to the employees.
But till now no action has been taken.
"On the other hand the government is suggesting to us to avail Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) to reduce staff ," he said.
Employees Association members also claimed that the prevailing situation of the employees of HMT have made them convinced to opt for VRS.
Out of 350 employees, only 100 were given VRS and the rest 250 are still in queue to avail this benefit.
Their forms are still pending with the concerned ministry for the want of sanction of funds.
Managing Director of HMT Bashir Ahmed Pukhta when contacted said, "The salary of the employees will be released in the next few days.
No doubt the company is not-functioning but still we do expect revival of our company sooner or latter." Employees of HMT also believe that the central government is trying its level best to handover the entire HMT assets to the state government.
But due to lack of interest, state government is not interested as its own several corporations are working in loss and their employees are facing the brunt.
The demands of employees of HMT are receiving sympathetic consideration from various levels of the government but the state government has failed to provide real succour.
Employees fear that their families would come on roads due to lack of financial resources.
They urged Congress chairperson Sonia Gandhi to intervene into the matter at the earliest and come out with a positive solution for the HMT unit and hundreds of employees associated with it.
