Miners stage Satyagraha against division of CIL
DHANBAD: Hundreds of miners, under the banner of Rashtriya Colliery Mazdoor Sangh (RCMS), on Wednesday staged day-long Satyagraha at Koyla Bhawan, the headquarter of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), against division of Coal India Limited (CIL) and announced to intensify the agitation if the central government doesn’t withdraw its letter.
RCMS general secretary AK Jha, while addressing the Satyagrahi miners, warned the central government that coal workers would spread the agitation in all colliery area of BCCL and other coal companies of CIL if division proposal is not held up.
“The Central government has issued letter for separating CMPDIL from Coal India Limited and proposal of separating profit making coal companies like SECL Vilaspur, NCL Sigrauli and MCL Sabalpur is on card. Government had planned to give loss making coal companies of CIL to Ambani and Adani. Three lakhs miners of CIL would not accept it any cost,” he said.
INTUC leaders — former minister OP Lal, Mannan Mallick, trade union leader Santosh Mahto, Suresh Chandra Jha — also joined Satyagraha with miners and threatened to launch agitation in coal industry if separation proposal is executed .
RCMS leaders charged that late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had given 7 lakh jobs by nationalising coal industry in 1972-73. But BJP government, instead of creating jobs, reducing right and facilities of miners. Working hours are being increased, retirement age of public sector units employees is being reduced to 55 years from 60 years.
Miners have not been paid their gratuity after January 2017.
“There had been vacancy of at least one lakh manpower in BCCL and other subsidy companies of CIL but BJP led union government neither recruiting nor giving job to nominees of VRS employees”, said RCMS general secretary.