Singareni Collieries initiates steps to discourage flash strikes in coal mines

Enthused by the drastic reduction in the number of strikes in coal mines, the management of Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) is initiating steps to totally avoid the loss of production on account of flash strikes.

In a bid to dissuade the workers from going on strike even in a surcharged atmosphere when fatal accidents take place, the company has decided to sanction a Rs 1 lakh matching grant to the family of the deceased instead of the earlier Rs 15,000 if the workers refrain from strikes.

"By not resorting to strike, the workers are helping the families of their beloved colleagues who unfortunately have lost their lives. The message is that one achieves nothing with such strikes," Sriram Taranikanti, director (personnel) of the company, told mediapersons on Saturday.

Though the number of strikes, especially the major ones, has come down in the past couple of years, the loss of production on account of flash strikes has remained a great concern to the SCCL management, which is already struggling to the increasing demand for coal supply in the state and elsewhere in the country.

This year, the company has targeted to achieve the production of 35 million tonnes of coal as compared to a record 33.5-million tonne last year. The loss of production on account of smaller strikes is anywhere between half-a-million to one-and-half-a-million tonne a year even though less number of strikes took place between 1999-2000 and 2002-03.

The year 1995-96 witnessed 191 strikes and recorded the highest loss of production to the tune of 3.3 million tonnes. The loss of production during 2002-03 was 6.57 lakh tonnes on account of a total of 35 strikes which happened during the year.

Incredible it may sound, the loss of man days is on the rise despite the reduction in strikes during this period. Accidents have become a major source of distress to the workers these days.

In a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with the recognised Singareni Collieries Labour Union (affiliated to INTUC), SCCL has agreed to raise the charge allowance to mining sardars, who are responsible for mine safety, from Rs 225 to Rs 550, to boost their morale in rendering safety reports and other responsibilities prescribed under law in letter and spirit.

A career growth scheme for supervisory personnel in mining, electrical and mechanical/automobile engineering disciplines has been formulated besides several other incentives.