Jagiroad, an industrial city till the first decade of this century, is a pale shadow of itself after the Nagaon Paper Mill (Hindustan Paper Corporation Limited) was liquidated in 2022.
This will no longer be the case as the Tatas are coming up with their Tata Semiconductor Assembly and Test Pvt Ltd (TSAT) on the premise where once the paper mill had existed. Locals are very excited at the prospects.
Dibyajit Neog (45), chairman, Jagiroad Development Authority termed it as a game changer for Jagiroad. “It will be a game changer for Assam’s industrial scenario in Assam. I foresee a new beginning,” Neog told Asom Barta.
“In recent months, we have had some infrastructural development work in and around Jagiroad town. We are lining up more such projects.”
Bhaben Chandra Neog, Principal of Jagiroad College, said that thousands of jobs will be created because of the investment. “A talent identifying test for girls was held at many places in Assam and Jagiroad college was one of the centres. A special test called – Bit Test – was held among the job aspirants. Interestingly, only girls were eligible for this Test,” he informed this reporter.
“Many female students of our college have been selected for
Bhaben Chandra Neog (Principal of Jagiroad College)
training at Tata facilities. After completion of training, they will
be recruited at Tata Semiconductor Assembly and Test Pvt Ltd.’s
Jagiroad project. They are currently at Tata’s semiconductor chip
packaging training facility in Karnataka. I have received good
feedback from them. They have secured their future’’
“Many female students of our college have been selected for training at Tata facilities. After completion of training, they will be recruited at Tata Semiconductor Assembly and Test Pvt Ltd.’s Jagiroad project. They are currently at Tata’s semiconductor chip packaging training facility in Karnataka. I have received good feedback from them. They have secured their future,’’ said Neog.
‘‘There is a huge enthusiasm among female students now. I think downstream industries will also grow as a result of this project,” he said.
Tapan Deka of Paliguri village is optimistic of the overall growth that the project will bring in Jagiroad. “A big industrial unit in any area brings business opportunities for locals,” he said.
Ranjib Sarma of Sitajakhala village which is three kilometres west of Jagiroad is a dairy farmer. He, too, is hopeful that better days are ahead for the likes of him.
According to him, farmers in the district will have scope to increase their income after the Tata project becomes functional. Prabir Bhowmick (59), president of Jagiroad College Alumni Association, who now works for the Railways has welcomed the project. “I think because of the project, Jagiroad will become a cosmopolitan town. Even the Jagiroad Railway Station, which has been declared as Amrit Bharat Station, will see major trains halting at Jagiroad.
Sanjib Saikia (60), the chairman and managing director of ESES Bio-wealth Pvt Ltd based in Jagiroad, said that this eco-friendly project will facilitate private investment in other sectors.
The locals have reasons to be optimistic because the Assam Chief Minister has led from the front in getting this investment in Jagiroad. After the announcement of the project, he took to the micro blogging platform X to highlight the significance of the facility in empowering the youth of Assam. “Today during my deliberations with the Tata leadership, we agreed to create a Skill Development Centre that will be co-located on the premises of the semiconductor facility in Jagiroad,” Sarma wrote on X on the day the investment came through.
Dr Sarma said, “This centre will empower youths from North East by offering them courses in Artificial Intelligence, semiconductors & electronics and help them in securing jobs in the Jagiroad unit.”
“Already 1,500 youths from Assam, mainly women, are undertaking training at Tata facilities in and around Bangalore. This will place them in a leadership position once the semiconductor facility becomes operational in 2025,” Dr Sarma added.
