Rajput, who began a hunger-strike along with others of the Amletha Mill Mazdoor Union on January 31, informed the district collector that he would begin a fast-unto-death from February 7 if the demands of the 600 mill-workers were not met. The demands covered payment of minimum wages and compensation for the 1989 firing allegedly ordered by the company management, which reportedly killed two workers and injured two.

Rajput was one of the two injured in the firing; the other resigned from the job soon afterwards. Rajput's compensation case is pending in the labour court.

Four days after he began the fast, his health deteriorated and he was admitted to the Rajpipla Civil Hospital before being transferred to SSG Hospital on February 11.

SSG sources confirmed that though he had been discharged after some days, he had been frequenting the hospital for check-ups for he continued to be weak. On May 19, he was admitted to SSG again from a private hospital in Rajpipla.

Akhilesh Singh Rajput, a worker who stayed with him, and S Rana, a trade unionist, alleged that the Narmada district administration and the company management had been aware of his deteriorating condition but did not seem to care. While the Collector could not be contacted, official sources in the administration said no one had foreseen the situation would come to this.

Deputy Labour Commissioner A S Rawal, who said he could contact the ``evasive company management (only) after several calls on Monday'', added that the company had agreed to pay for the worker's last rites but nothing more.

About the pending issues, Rawal reiterated that he had 476 criminal cases while his efforts to meet the GSL's top management had come to naught. ``I visited Rajpipla on May 5 to meet them, but the management deputed a junior officer without policy powers for the meeting'', he said.

Express Newsline's efforts to contact the management also failed on Monday.