Warangal/Hyderabad | June 16, 2017: In sharp contrast to the claims of the trade unions that went on strike on Thursday demanding implementation of the dependent employment scheme, the State-owned Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) management says that there was no impact at all on mining operations spread across Khammam, Warangal, Karimnagar and Adilabad undivided districts.
It may be noted here that trade unions have been at loggerheads with the management since the High Court, which observed that providing employment on compassionate grounds to dependent persons of medically unfit employees was in violation of Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution, struck down the scheme.
Subsequently, trade unions served a strike notice on the management on March 31. After the initial talks, the management put off the talks on the pretext of approaching the Supreme Court on the scheme. The talks again resumed on April 27 after the Supreme Court also upheld the High Court order on dependent jobs. Against this backdrop, fresh round of discussions were held between the management and the unions in the presence of Deputy Chief Labour Commissioner.
However, they ended abruptly on June 13 when the SCCL sought time till June 23 to seek legal opinion. But the miners decided to go on strike from Thursday.
Claiming that strike was almost 100 per cent, INTUC vice-president Janak Prasad told The Hans India, “Within the framework of the High Court and not violating the Constitution of India, there was ample scope for an amicable solution for reviving the dependent jobs. However, the government wants to drag it. As a result, nearly 50,000 Singareni miners out of a total 55,000 are put to hardships.”
Telangana Boggu Gani Karmika Sangham (TBGKS) president and former MLC B Venkat Rao said: “The strike call given by other trade unions is totally uncalled for. Majority of miners by turning to work made it clear that they do not believe in the strike call given by the other unions.”
The SCCL chairman and Managing Director N Sridhar, in a statement, claimed that it was business as usual in almost all the open cast and underground mines. Strike is not the solution as it would only hurt the productivity.
The government is exploring options to revive the dependent jobs, hence, those participating in the strike should return to work.” SCCL PRO B Mahesh said that the strike has no impact on coal production as all the mines witnessed a good attendance.
According to official sources, 20,422 workers of the total 33,951 were absent in the first shift. Similarly, 6,042 were absent out of the total 10,129 miners on the roll in the second shift.
(Source: http://www.thehansindia.com/)