HUNDREDS of coal workers staged a demonstration in New Delhi on March 18 to oppose the government’s move for denationalisation of the coal sector. The demonstrators urged the parliamentarians not to pass the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Bill, 2014 as it is likely to doom the economy of a vast Indian society, push the miners into slavery and pave the way for insecure mining. The coal workers urged the parliament to direct the government to reintroduce the bill in consultations with trade unions and provide institutional guarantee that the spirit of the Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act, 1973 would not be encroached upon in any way.

The demonstrators appealed to the parliament to ensure that the mining sector, which is getting critical with massive mechanisation, is freed from contract workers and to introduce five-day week working norm. They also urged the house not to give assent to any report from the Select Committee, as constituted by the Rajya Sabha, without incorporating depositions of trade unions.

The All India Coal Workers Federation (AICWF) has hailed the workers for the successful demonstration. In a statement, AICWF general secretary Jibon Roy said, “The federation is glad that ten lakh coal workers and one-crore strong coal mining society demonstrated their mighty support to the united opposition in the way of joining the strike of January 6 and 7 with a wide sense of involvement. The United Platform of Trade Unions is happy to note that the coal mining society spread across 38 districts, known as economically backward,  have commanded  the opinion of trade unions that the denationalisation would step by step push the industry into slavery and force Coal India and Singarani Group of Collieries to privatisation.”