BRS vows to fight attempts to privatise Singareni

BRS working president KT Rama Rao urged party leaders to oppose attempts to privatise Singareni, question alleged irregularities and defend workers’ welfare. The party also discussed strengthening its affiliated union and preparing for forthcoming trade union elections.

Hyderabad: BRS working president KT Rama Rao vowed to fight attempts to privatise Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) and protect the rights and welfare of its workers. In this regard, he asked party leaders to question the Congress government, press for a probe into alleged irregularities in the company’s affairs and oppose decisions that could undermine its interests.

Rama Rao was addressing a meeting with BRS MLAs, former MLAs, senior leaders from the Singareni region and Telangana Boggu Ghani Karmika Sangham (TBGKS) representatives at Telangana Bhavan on Thursday. The meeting reviewed the company’s present situation, workers’ issues, its future and measures to strengthen the party-affiliated trade union following the successful Singareni Karmika Garjana public meeting held at Godavarikhani recently.

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The meeting resolved to coordinate efforts to protect Singareni, safeguard workers’ rights, revive welfare measures and strengthen TBGKS. BRS leaders said they would continue to hold both the Congress and BJP governments accountable for their policies towards the company and its workforce.

Congratulating leaders, workers and union representatives for making the Godavarikhani meeting a success at short notice, Rama Rao called for a coordinated campaign to take the issues raised there to the public. He asked party leaders to question alleged irregularities in tenders, declining coal production, Singareni’s financial affairs and funds due to the company.

He said the BRS should question both the Congress government in Telangana and the BJP-led government at the Centre over their indifference towards Singareni.

The BRS working president called for an extensive campaign on the welfare measures implemented for Singareni workers during the previous BRS government. These included profit-sharing, dependent employment, medical facilities and welfare programmes for workers’ families.

He asked party leaders to compare the previous government’s initiatives with the current situation and raise concerns over workers’ profit shares, bonuses and other benefits if the government failed to ensure their timely delivery. The party should remain accessible to workers and pursue their demands at the grassroots level, he said.

The meeting also discussed preparations for the forthcoming trade union elections. Rama Rao asked party and TBGKS leaders and workers to strengthen the organisation in the Singareni belt and mobilise support around workers’ issues.

Party leaders said Singareni workers and people in the region were increasingly recalling the welfare initiatives undertaken during the BRS regime amid problems under the Congress government.