SCCL announces Dasara bonus as profit-sharing amount drops from last year

The Telangana government has announced a Dasara bonus of Rs 1.54 lakh for each permanent SCCL employee and Rs 5,500 for contract workers. Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka also unveiled a series of welfare measures for Singareni workers.

Hyderabad: The Telangana government announced a Dasara bonus of Rs 1,53,912 for each permanent Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) employee, down from Rs 1,95,610 last year. Contract workers will receive Rs 5,500 as last year.

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka made an announcement in this regard, stating that the company earned a profit of Rs 1,754 crore after taxes and that 34 per cent of the amount will be distributed among workers. He attributed the decline in profits to reduced coal production. He blamed the previous BRS government for failing to secure new coal blocks during its 10-year rule, which reduced coal production.

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He alleged that the previous BRS government had failed to secure new coal blocks despite the Centre auctioning 141 blocks and allowing 14 blocks to close. He said the government was working to secure new blocks despite inadequate cooperation from the Centre.

Addressing a press conference at Praja Bhavan on Tuesday, Bhatti Vikramarka announced several measures, including clearing 250 to 300 pending compassionate appointment orders within 15 days. He promised to resolve discrepancies in workers’ names and conduct monthly medical invalidation boards at area hospitals. Employees dismissed for absence during the Covid-19 period or due to local circumstances would get a one-time opportunity to return to work.

Eligible beneficiaries would receive house-site pattas under GO 76 on 1,250 acres of SCCL land. Dilapidated D-type quarters would be replaced with modern accommodation, while Singareni colonies would be upgraded with drainage, sanitation, drinking water and sewage treatment facilities.

Area hospitals would be strengthened with specialists, cardiac and catheterisation laboratories, besides free cancer screening in villages. The government also proposed solar installations on public buildings and institutions, safety kits every six months, payment of workers’ income tax by the company and performance-related pay for Singareni officials.

The government has approved a Singareni-run thermal power plant at Ramagundam. Funds would also be provided to improve government junior colleges at Sathupalli and Bhupalpally, and land would be allotted for an agricultural research centre at Bhupalpally.

Industries Minister D Sridhar Babu said the Congress government had filled 3,189 posts in Singareni, including 2,437 compassionate appointments and 752 external recruitments. He said 30,000 contract workers were covered under a Rs 40 lakh accidental insurance, while Singareni employees had Rs 1.2 crore insurance coverage.