The incident in which a female labourer at Maruti Cement Industry at Golbazaar Municipality-9 in Siraha killed herself has yet to be resolved.

Family members and workers’ unions have refused to accept the body until a probe committee is formed and necessary compensation guaranteed.

The body has been kept at Lahan-based Ram Prasad Uma Prasad Memorial Hospital.

Anita Devi Paswan of Govindpur at Golbazaar-9 had been working at the industry for the past 17 years. She committed suicide yesterday after she was given retirement by the industry management without notifying her on Monday.

As Paswan was not aware of the retirement, came to the factory to work yesterday morning. But, she was forcefully taken out of the industry by two women police personnel.

After a few hours, Paswan committed suicide by hanging herself from a seesam tree near the industry.

Industry workers charged that Paswan was relieved of her duty as she had demanded Rs 50 allowance per day for tea and snacks for the past the two months, which the industry management had cut.

The management has suspended Madhesi Factory Workers’ Front Chair Binod Kumar Mahato, Sabhya Kumar Yadav, Mohan Kumar Yadav and Mithilesh Kumar Yadav for one month.

Nepal Trade Union Chair and Golbazaar Municipality Ward-9 Chair Ram Pukar Kamati said the industry management had been delaying talks meant for resolving the problem.

Kamati accused the management of not being serious towards addressing the demands raised by workers.

Though the industry was operational today, its depot was closed down.

Factory Manager Nanda Kishor Rathi claimed that they had given retirement to Paswan as her work was not satisfactory and she had not submitted clarification although the management had sought for clarification repeatedly. “The industry will not be responsible for Paswan’s suicide outside the factory premises,” Rathi clarified.

Mirchaiya Area Police Office DSP Sukhdev Khanal said police had launched an investigation into the incident. “But, the management will have to settle the demands raised by factory workers immediately, DSP Khanal stated.

Published on: 12 December 2019 | The Himalayan Times