SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, April 10: Various trade union leaders have expressed concern over the pending gratuity payments of retired miners and asked the Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) management to clear their dues on a priority basis.
Rashtriya Colliery Mazdoor Union (RCMU) general secretary AK Jha today shot off a letter to BCCL chairman cum Managing Director (CMD) Samiran Dutta and Director of Finance (DF) Rakesh Kumar Sahay saying that keeping the plight of these retired miners, they ensure payment of gratuity on a priority basis.
As per RCMU general secretary AK Jha, BCCL has stopped paying gratuity to retired miners for the last eight years. Over 7000 retired miners are the victim of it.
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“It looks strange that BCCL claims to have registered production of coal more than the target and running in profit, despite that the due of miners who made it a profitable unit has been held up. As per law, the management can’t hold up gratuity payment of miners and will have to pay with 18% interest”, said Jha.
AK Jha said retired miners come from their villages for gratuity payment and after making rounds of the coal company office, return to their native place disappointed. The BCCL authorities must consider their compulsion, he added.
The RCMU leader said that trade unions are geared up to protest the mine privatisation attempt of BCCL, especially the controversial Mine Developer and Operator (MDO) policy aimed at giving mines to private parties.
