According to sources, of about 4,000 factory workers, 1,842 joined the new unit on March 31. The remaining 2,158 workers had either taken premature retirement or left the job fearing harassment by the factory management.

Narrating their plight, the factory workers who have raised makeshift arrangement for their stay before the factory gate, said 905 workers have so far not been absorbed. They added: "We visit the factory daily and return soon after marking our attendance due to the delay in production."

While seeking salary on the basis of the present DA, they said they have been drawing salary on the basis of 1996 DA slab. A factory worker Anant Ram alleged that they were bereft of ESI facility which is mandatory in the factory rule. The workers, however, admitted that the factory management had disbursed Rs 3,000 each to them in lieu of salary arrears of the last three years.