SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Oct 12: On the call of the Coal Pensioners Association, retired employees and officers of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), Central Coalfield Limited (CCL) and Eastern Coalfield Limited (ECL) will demonstrate and stage a day-long dharna at the Dhanbad-based headquarters of the Coal Mines Provident Fund Organization (CMPFO) regarding their five-point demand on October 17.
Coal Pensioners Association President Ramanuj Prasad said that senior citizens (retired employees of Coal India Limited) have compelled them to hold a demonstration and sit on dharna at this age as right from CMPFO commissioner, CIL management, ministry of coal to the PMO, no one took cognizance of their long pending due demands.
Jharkhand-based CCL, BCCL and ECL retired employees of CIL would prominently participate in the demonstration as well as in the dharna. The Association has duly informed the CMPFO commissioner and other concerned authorities regarding their demonstration and dharna.
The main demands of the Coal Pensioners Association are:
- A minimum pension or Rs 10,000 per month on basis of the present market valuation,
- An amendment in the present pension scheme so that it should be reviewed on a certain period for increment in amount and it should be attached with dearness allowance.
- Association has also been demanding for a long time that along with pay revision of coal employees, pension should be also revised and at par with employees retired staff should be also given the benefit of dearness allowance.
Ramanuj Prasad rued that despite serving a letter, the CMPFO commissioner did not invite retired coalmen for discussion over demands and has compelled the senior citizens to agitate. “Despite old age, the organization is geared up to hold demonstrations and stage dharna facing all odds,” he said.
