British India Corp employees to get dues from Saturday: Textiles Minister

The government said on Friday that the disbursement of outstanding dues to employees of the British India Company will start from Saturday.

Rs 80.17 crore will be disbursed for back pay and retirement benefits and 1,101 employees of the British India Company will benefit from this disbursement.

The disbursement is set to bring relief to employees and their families who have been experiencing financial hardship since production was halted in 2009 at both units in Dariwal and Lalimili Kanpur.

“Disbursement of outstanding dues to employees of British India Company Limited (BIC), a public sector undertaking under Ministry of Textiles, is expected to start from tomorrow i.e. 24th June 2023.

The Ministry of Textiles stated, “The total amount to be paid for back salaries and retirement benefits of BIC employees comes to Rs. 80.17 crore. Federation Budget 2023 has agreed to push towards the long-awaited resolution of these dues.”

The amount allocated to salary and retirement benefits of 1,101 employees across BIC Head Office Kanpur, CWM (Lalimli) Kanpur Branch, and NEWM Dhariwal Branch is Rs.74.71 crore. An amount of Rs 5.46 crore has been earmarked for the employer’s portion of EPF and ESI contributions.

The much-needed relief will benefit staff at BIC’s head office in Kanpur and its units at the Cawnpore Woolen Mills (CWM) (Lalimli) branch in Kanpur and the New Egerton Woolen Mills (NEWM) branch in Dhariwal, whose salaries and pension benefits have been paid. Overdue since June 2019 and June 2017 respectively.

British India Corporation Ltd is a historic textile company with roots dating back to 1876, with its headquarters located in Kanpur, India.

The company operates two woolen mills, one at Cawnpore Woolen Mills (Lalimli) in Kanpur and the other at New Egerton Woolen Mills in Dhariwal, Punjab.