CM KCR announced 29 percent bonus for Singareni employees

In an announcement that would bring cheer to workers of Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao on Tuesday announced 29 per cent profit-sharing bonus to them, one per cent more than last year.

Pointing out that the State government was committed to the welfare of Singareni workers, the Chief Minister asked the SCCL Chairman N Sridhar to pay the bonus before Dasara festival.

Reviewing the SCCL operations at Pragathi Bhavan here, the Chief Minister underscored the need for expansion of SCCL’s activities in the larger interest of the company and workers. Apart from coal mining, the SCCL should expand its operations to sand, iron and limestone among others, he said.

Following a request from the Social Welfare Minister Koppula Eshwar, who was also present in the meeting, to help Singareni retired employees, who are getting only Rs 2,000 as pension from the Central government, Chief Minister responded positively and asked the officials to prepare a report on how can the State government can help them.

“The



hard work of workers played a crucial role in placing Singareni in the top position in the country in coal mining and power generation,” he said, and emphasised the need to utilise the experience of Singareni workers in extracting sand, iron and limestone along with coal. The Chief Minister instructed officials to prepare an action plan in this regard.

Stating that corporate companies were utilising the services of retired Singareni workers in coal and other minerals and generating profits, Chandrashekhar Rao said: “Why can’t we also do the same?”

It was highly deplorable on the part of the Central government to resort to privatisation of profit-making public sector undertakings, he said, adding that the State government, however, would work keeping in view the interest of workers and the organisation.

The experience of workers would also be utilised for the larger benefit of SCCL. The State government would take necessary steps to ensure proper work to workers in mining of coal as well as other minerals.