SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, April 3: The Rashtriya Colliery Mazdoor Union (RCMU), the miners’ wing of the Congress party, has announced a Satyagraha protest at the Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) headquarters, Koyla Bhawan, on April 14.
The demonstration is against the privatization of coal mines, the implementation of four new labour codes, and the reduction of miners’ benefits.
In a joint statement, RCMU executive president Brajendra Prasad Singh and general secretary AK Jha criticized the Narendra Modi-led government for selling coal mines to private companies under the Mine Developer cum Operator (MDO) model.
They accused the government of abolishing labour rights, leaving the union with no option but to resort to peaceful protest.
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Concerns Over Privatization and Workers’ Rights
The decision to stage the protest was unanimously taken during a meeting of senior RCMU office bearers and executive members at Katras Club, Sijua.
Singh and Jha highlighted that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had nationalized the coal industry to safeguard national interests and protect miners’ welfare. However, they alleged that the Modi government is reversing this by handing over coal mines to private entities while withdrawing essential facilities and replacing existing labour laws.
RCMU leaders further pointed out that sick miners are being declared unfit for work, yet the company has not been offering jobs to their dependents on compensatory grounds since 2017.
They also raised concerns over the declining workforce in coal mines, stating that recruitment has come to a standstill, worsening job security in the sector.
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Union Leaders Vow to Intensify Agitation
Prominent RCMU leaders, including Mithilesh Kumar Singh, Vice President Ramprit Yadav, Randhir Thakur, SK Shahi, Surendra Yadav, Gopal Singh, Magandev Yadav, Manoj Singh, S. Chouhan, Dayal Mahto, Sunder Ram, Kaushal Singh, Bombhola Singh, Navnit Neeraj, Dinesh Singh, Suresh Lal, Ravi Choubey, Krishna Lal, Balram Mahto, Uttam Gaur, RK Rawani, Pramod Tiwari, Suresh Tati, Md. Nizam, Ranjeet Nonia, and Satyanarayan Chouhan, attended the meeting.
They reaffirmed their commitment to fighting for miners’ rights and warned that if the government does not reconsider its policies, the agitation will be intensified.
The union leaders emphasized that their movement is aimed at restoring labour rights, ensuring job security, and preventing the unchecked privatization of coal mines, which they believe threatens the livelihood of thousands of workers.
