K’jhar Essel Mining workers hold stir

Hundreds of workers of Essel Mining at Juruli under Joda mining circle have launched a dharana with various demands here. The agitation reached its second day on Tuesday.

Their demands include raising retirement age from 58 to 60, revising wage and regularising contract workers, among others.

Sources revealed that after the raising of retirement age by the both the Central  and the State Governments, all the private companies in the locality have raised the retirement age of their workers. Hence, the workers of Essel Mining too demanded that their retirement age be hiked.

Sources close to Keonjhar Mining and Forest Workers Union general secretary Maheswar Rout said the management of Essel instead of trying to fulfill the genuine demands of the workers was taking the help of outside people -- those who are non-workers-- to create disturbances. He further alleged that many workers who are working since years are not made permanent whereas new entrants recommended by local powerful people are given permanent jobs. He threatened to intensify the stir unless the demands were not fulfilled.

On the other hand, local PRI representatives like Basu Naik and several Zila Parishad Members have backed the stir and sought a peaceful solution so that operation of the mines was not affected.

Meanwhile, the Essel Mining clarified that a discussion was on with the agitators.