HPF issue: CM assures to take up matter with Centre

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today assured striking employees of sick Hindustan Photo Films (HPF) here that she will take up the matter with the Centre to find a permanent solution to the problem, trade union sources said.
Jayalalithaa, who was on her way to Theppakkadu in Mudumalai for a review of the elephant camp, stopped her car in front of the factory and met the employees, who were on relay hunger strike for the last 80 days and received a memorandum, the sources said.
The Chief Minister, currently camping at Kodanadu near here for the past few weeks, stopped her car in front of the factory, and met the employees, they said.

The members of 'Save HPF Committee,' comprising the leaders all major trade unions, appraised her about the situation of the Company, which was once very popular with its 'INDU" brand films.
The union leaders said they also told her that though the Centre had come out with a revival package some years ago, now the finance ministry had rejected it and employees were being asked to opt for voluntary retirement.
Later at the elephant camp, Jayalalithaa was welcomed by 18 elephants which greeted her with trumpeting and touching her head with their trunks.
After inspecting the camp, she fed three elephant calves fruits.

Jayalalithaa told reporters Mudumalai was one of the best tiger reserves in the country and the government would ensure all required basic needs were met.