Lok Sabha Debates
Need To Address The Problems Of Workers Of Neyveli Lignite Corporation (Nlc) In ... on 21 May, 2012
> Title: Need to address the problems of workers of Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) in Tamil Nadu who are on strike for the last 30 days.
SHRI T.R. BAALU (SRIPERUMBUDUR): Mr. Chairman, Sir, with a heavy heart, I would like to draw the kind attention of this august House as well as the Government of India about the sad plight of 13,000 contract labourers of the Neyveli Lignite Corporation, who are vociferously fighting for their lawful rights for the past 31 days and it is leading to dwindling production loss, as far as mining and power generation are concerned.
Sir, to make the intensity of this situation very clear, I would say that if the accumulated earth, the overburdens of the mining area, is not removed on time, there will be a disastrous effect and the mining will come to a grinding halt. It would also lead to stoppage of power generation. The labours unrest is going on for the past 31 days. But neither the Management of the Neyveli Lignite Corporation nor the Government of India have come forward to settle the issue very amicably.
Sir, for instance, the mining production at the level of 45,000 tonnes per day has come down to only 9,000 tonnes per day at Neyveli Lignite Corporation. Similarly, production of power has come down from 2,490 MW to 1,690 MW.
Sir, the intensity of the agitation is going on increasing day by day. Even in this grave situation, the Government is not at all ready to make an effort to see that the problem is settled very quickly. Even now, when I am deliberating the same issue in this august House, the hon. Member of Parliament Shri T.K.S. Elangovan; the ex-Member of Parliament, Shri C. Kuppusamy; and Shri Rajavannian, General Secretary of the DMK Labour Union are pleading for the lawful rights of more than 13,000 contract workers in the Neyveli Lignite Corporation.
Sir, what had happened in 1994? In 1994, at the instance of the DMK Union, Tholilar Munnetra Sangha Peravai, the Labour Progressive Federation had demanded for ‘InCoService’ That is the Industrial Cooperative Service Society; and the Neyveli Lignite Corporation came forward to establish the Industrial Cooperative Service Society. In that Cooperative Service Society, they had registered about 5,000 workers. Out of these 5,000 workers, 4,000 workers have been made permanent; and more than 200 workers left the job or died. Then, only 800 workers are remaining who have not been made permanent. These 800 workers are not getting the proper lawful rights. That is one issue.
Meantime, in 2008, the Management went on engaging contract labourers. They have not adopted the ‘InCoService’ system as per 12(3) Agreement. The Management were going on encouraging the contract labourers. This has created the problem. Over and above, those 800 people have not been made permanent employee of the Neyveli Lignite Corporation.
Sir, in 2008, the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, and my leader, Dr. Kalaignar Karunanidhi, had intervened to see that 12/3 agreement has been settled. With that effect, 5000 people had to be taken in the ‘InCoService’ and 800 people had to be confirmed. But nothing has happened so far.
That is why this problem has arrived to the extent of 31 days strike. Still, it is going on.
MR. CHAIRMAN : Please be brief because it is a Zero Hour.
SHRI T.R. BAALU: I am concluding within a minute.
Sir, all the unions cutting across all political lines, viz., CPI affiliated, CPM affiliated and other political affiliated unions are jointly fighting for the cause of these labourers.
Under this situation, I can only request the Government of India, who is at the helm of affairs, to come forward to have a discussion, call for the people and solve the problem. Workers are not our enemies. They are the part and parcel of the stake holdings; they are the stakeholders; they are the kingpins of the Neyveli Lignite Corporation.
That is why it is high time that the concerned Department and the Neyveli Lignite Corporation people should come forward and take a decision to register 50,000 workers into the ‘InCoService’. According to Clause 25V (a) of the Contract Labour Central Rules, 1971, they have to be absorbed and the things should be settled amicably. They may say there is court order. The court order never said about the registration of people in the ‘InCoService’. The court order says about settlement of seniority only. Let them settle it separately. The seniority list has already been submitted to the Supreme Court by the Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC). The left out 800 workers have to get the seniority and new recruitment of 5000 people in the ‘InCoService’ should be registered.
With these, I conclude. .… (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN : Whoever wants to associate, you can send your names. There is no problem. You can send your names.
… (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN: No, you send your name if you want to associate yourself with the matter raised by him.
Next is Shri Ravindra Kumar Pandey.
… (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN: Nothing will go on record.
(Interruptions) …* MR. CHAIRMAN:
Shri P.L. Punia, Shri M. Abdul Rahman, Shri Kamal Kishor, Shri M.B. Rajesh, Shri S.S. Ramasubbu and Shri O.S. Manian are allowed to associate with the matter raised by Shri T.R. Baalu.