Bonanza for SCCL workers

Hyderabad: Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao rained more sops on SCCL coal miners at a function organised at Pragathi Bhavan on Sunday to mark the victory of TRS-backed union TGBKS in the just concluded union elections.

The Chief Minister resolved to end corruption in Singareni coal mines and streamline the system so that it will become a role model even for Coal India. He said the TGBKS could not do much after the last elections but this time it would ensure that all the assurances were fulfilled.

KCR announced that the TGBKS membership fee from now on would be just one rupee. So far, the workers of each union were paying Rs 20 as membership and this has led to large scale misuse of huge funds the unions earn from membership fee. The leaders who used to walk in chappals are now travelling by cars while the workers continue to suffer and the situation needs to be changed, he said.

As part of the Yatra, he said, he would lay the foundation for six new underground coal mines already identified at different places. These new mines would enhance the employment potential of the company and facilitate recruitment of another 5000 to 6000 workers.

He said it has come to his notice that workers were forced to pay bribe to shift their quarters or other works. He said this practice would be put to rest and entire Singareni Collieries would be free from corruption. He even advised that those seeking or paying bribe should be beaten with slippers. “I will come to Singareni in next twenty days and will sit with you all and sort out the issues,” he said.

The Chief Minister announced that the Coal workers back home for from a hard day’s work would now be able to enjoy the minimum comfort of an air conditioner. They rightly deserve it. The SCCL Board would not only consider the miners request for allowing use of ACs in their quarters, but it would also ensure supply of free power.

He said workers would be given interest free housing loans up to Rs 10 lakh by setting aside an amount of Rs 50 crore from the State government's share in profits. It may be mentioned here that before the union elections, KCR had announced housing loan of Rs six lakhs.
He further announced that a referral hospital for the parents of Singareni workers would be established soon. Stating that the State government earned profits of about Rs 700-800 crore from SCCL, he said Rs 375 crore would be kept aside for payment of increased wages as per new pay revision.

Referring to the Bayyaram mines in Khammam, he reiterated that they would be handed over to the SCCL. He said working in coal mines was a difficult job and workers stake their lives every day to perform their duties. Therefore, he said that the State government would take all measures for the welfare of all workers.

He said that the coal workers were major victims of the menace of bribery that was promoted consistently over a period of time. Taking a dig at the trade unions affiliate to the left parties for encouraging such tendencies, he said he was shocked to know that coal workers seeking certification of medical invalidation were forced cough Rs 6 lakh per head to the medical board. He said soon the board would be revamped.

The Chief Minister said that he had asked the Managing Director of SCCL to list out the problems of the workers. He said during his visit to Singareni, he would focus attention even on minute issues like the food being served in canteens and will seek the opinion of the workers on what the menu should be. Measures would be taken to ensure that the workers will have a clean canteen which would serve hygienic food.