SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Jan 20: Central trade unions have asked the Coal India Limited (CIL) management for allotment of its surplus quarters based in subsidiary companies to retired employees on lease for earning and safety of the property.
Notably, the All India Trade Union Cong (AITUC) and the Rashtriya Colliery Mazdoor Union (RCMU) of the Indian National Trade Union Cong (INTUC) said that thousands of quarters are lying vacant in coal companies of CIL after the retirement of employees.
Either that quarters have been encroached on or are being illegally occupied by anti–social elements. Encroachers are using free-of-cost power, water and quarters of the company.
The trade unions leaders said quarters are also surplus in the Jharkhand-based Central Coalfield Limited (CCL), the Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) and the Eastern Coalfield Limited (ECL). It is given on lease, and thousands of retired employees would be benefitted.
“Now all subsidiary coal companies of CIL have quarters more than employees due retirement. The oldest coal company Central Coalfield Limited (CCL) has more than 65,000 quarters but its employee strength has come down to 33,000. This has resulted in unauthorised persons having begun occupying the vacant quarters. If the quarter is given to retired employees on lease or license-free not only the property of the coal company would be safe but it would also give revenue,” said the senior AITUC leader and JBCCI member Lakhan Lal Mahto.
Moreover, AITUC leader Mahto said that central trade unions have already pushed demands in the 11th NCWA (chapter -1).
“Fertilizer Corporation of India (FCI) Sindri had given its vacant quarters to retired employees on lease for safety. SAIL, DVC, and HEC (Ranchi) are doing the same. So giving quarter on lease to retired employees would benefit the company and its retired employees as well,” he said.
Mahto further added that in the new mines area where CIL feels a shortage of quarters, it can construct new quarters on funds of lease-out deals.
The RCMU general secretary AK Jha said that BCCL has around 65,000 quarters but its employees are less than 30,000. Most of the vacant quarters in Bhuli Township and other areas have been encroached on by anti-social elements.
Moreover, it is creating law and order problems too for the coal companies as well as the district administration. In 2011, police had to resort to firing to control the mob in which two people died and several were injured.
“So RCMU has asked CIL management, especially BCCL to allot surplus quarters to retired employees on lease in the interest of the company as well as retired employees,” said AK Jha, who is also senior vice-president of Indian National Mines Workers Federation (INTUC).
