Assam: WIMCO bachao committee stage protest, alleges shareholders unaware of sale of match factory land in Dhubri

The people of Dhubri expressed their outrage in a powerful sit-in protest against M/s Kamrup Ice and Cold Storage Company's, conspiracy where they planned to transfer the property and assets of the WIMCO Ltd., which was set up in Dhubri in 1925 by a group of Swedish people.

Members of the Dhubri WIMCO Bachao Committee submit a memorandum to the district magistrate requesting that M/S Kamrup Ice and Cold Storage Co. be prohibited from selling the heritage and historic Match factory's land to individuals, businessmen, and builders and take the necessary steps to force the company to establish a factory or industry.

"I will give blood, but I will not allow WIMCO company's land to be sold to any third party," declared one of the impassioned protesters during the sit-in protest. The protesters alleged irregularities in the sale process, claiming that over 900 shareholders were not adequately informed about the transaction.

Once upon a time, the residents of Dhubri town were very familiar with the sound of "sirens" which played every day in the Match factory when the duty hours of the workers changed at 10 a.m and 6 p.m. which is an emotional attachment and sentimental of the people of Dhubri.

Also Read: Assam: FIR lodged against Badruddin Ajmal over 'insult' to Saleng Chadar

In 1979, the Assam Match Company (AMCO) was renamed the Western India Match Company (WIMCO), which was run by the Jatia Group of Industries, and in 2014, the ITC business group cunningly merged with the said Match Company's entire assets, including landed property, to their name according to a verdict of Calcutta High Court.

Whereas, in the Dhubri Revenue Circle office, it has been recorded as an ITC business group merged with WIMCO LTD. in the year 2022, October 25. The protestors doubt and suspect that the officers of the district administration may have allegedly manipulated the land documents.

Hereafter, the ITC Company allegedly sale/transfer/handover the land of the said Match Company to real estate builders, M/s Kamrup Ice and Cold Storage Co., against the interest or concern of the existing shareholders of the WIMCO Ltd. and the people of the surrounding area.

It is very regrettable and unfortunate that the Assam government failed to convince ITC Ltd. management to restore the internationally recognised Match factory in Dhubri. Where the Swedish organisation made Dhubri a prominent spot on the nation's industrial map.

In 1935, it was the first industry in Assam to observe Labour Day. Unfortunately, the said Match factory was forever winded up in the year 1997 when the Supreme Court put a ban on the cutting of forest trees. 

As a result the employees/workers of the said Match factory become jobless and their family members have to spend their life in hardship. About 3,000 workers directly or indirectly associated with the said factory lost their jobs overnight due to the untimely closure.

The Dhubri WIMCO Bachao Committee and the people of the surrounding area of the Match factory, including Dhubri town, have several times submitted representations to WIMCO Ltd., ITC management, and other concerned authorities demanding the restart of the Match factory or any other industry on the said land. However, the ITC failed/neglected to do so.

However, people and members of the Dhubri WIMCO Bachao Committee stated that the people of Dhubri town will boycott the next election if the government fails to provide justice.

Furthermore, concerns have been raised about the potential change in the land classification orchestrated by creating political pressure, allegedly with the complicity of officials. This move could pave the way for alternative uses of the factory land, deviating from its historical and industrial significance.