The BRS and its affiliated union, Telangana Boggu Gani Karmika Sangham (TBGKS), on Wednesday urged the Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) management to streamline the functioning of its Medical Board, citing serious inconveniences faced by coal workers due to its irregular operations over the past year.
During the BRS regime, the Medical Board held regular meetings to review medical invalidation applications submitted by employees. However, since the Congress government took office, there have been significant delays in processing these applications, the party alleged.
These delays are affecting employees who seek medical invalidation, a key provision that allows dependents of incapacitated workers to obtain compassionate appointments.
A delegation of BRS leaders and TBGKS representatives, led by former Minister and TBGKS in-charge Koppula Eashwar, met SCCL Chairman and Managing Director N. Balaram in Hyderabad on Wednesday and raised concerns related to coal workers’ welfare.
Eashwar demanded that the Medical Board be convened immediately to clear the pending cases. He also called for improved healthcare in Singareni hospitals, including uninterrupted supply of essential medicines for chronic conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
The delegation further emphasised the need to protect SCCL’s viability by launching new coal mines and investing in modern machinery for both underground and open-cast mining. Outdated equipment, they noted, is contributing to accidents and impacting production levels.
Eashwar warned that unless the machinery is upgraded, the company may struggle to meet its production targets. He also urged SCCL to declare last year’s profits and distribute dividends to its workers.
Responding to the delegation, CMD Balaram said the company was focusing on growth in other sectors and working towards improving productivity. He expressed confidence that the current year’s profits would surpass previous figures.
