Strike brings SCCL to halt

Coal production in coal mines of Singareni Collieries Company (SCCL) of Ramagundam Region came to a standstill following an indefinite strike demanding the revival of dependent employment scheme (DES) by workers on Thursday.

Except opencast mines, all underground mines were shut as 80 per cent workers stayed away from their duties on the first day of the strike. About 22,000 employees are working in four opencast and 13 underground mines in Ramagundam region. A majority of the workers stayed away from coal mines.

As against the average production of 60,000 to 65,000 tonnes per day, about 23,000 tonnes was provided in opencast mines.While five national trade unions AITUC, INTUC, CITU, HMS and BMS and seven registered trade unions participated in the strike, Telangana Boggugani Karmika Sangham (TBGKS), supported by the TRS stayed away from the strike.

On the other hand, Maoist party on Wednesday released a statement in the name of Prabath,



Singareni area committee secretary, wherein he asked the workers to continue the strike till they get the scheme.

In the morning, trade union leaders took out rallies and staged protest demonstrations at mines. They requested the workers to join the strike to get their right and avail the scheme.

On the other hand, Ramagundam police commissionerate authorities, who clamped ‘Police Act’ in RG region, deployed huge police force at the coal mines to avert any untoward incidents.

In a statement, the Police Commissioner warned that cases will be registered against trade union leaders or workers if they try to threaten workers from attending duties.Five trade unions served the strike notice to SCCL management on March 31 demanding the revival of DES following the High Court’s stay on the circular issued by the management. The labour department had held four rounds of talks with trade unions and management but was unsuccessful.