Miners of Singareni CollieriesAn ethnographic study of workers in the context of

liberalization

*. Sampath Rao Pulluri

1. Problem

The workers who have been engaged in the miningactivity are from the rural areas of northTelangana districts and most of them were fromweaker sections of the society. Historicallythe Telangana region is known for itsbackwardness and poverty. Persistent droughtconditions, failure of monsoons, mechanization(of agricultural) and using of seeds andpesticides cut down the size of work force inthe agricultural sector. These labourers haveto invariably search an alternative work withintheir purview. At this juncture they found theSingareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) toaccommodate them in an appropriate manner.

But soon after their joining in the SCCL theyfound it very difficult to come out of thecobweb. In the initial state they felt goodabout the mining activity as they have alreadyworked hard in the agricultural sector. Butlater on slowly they came to know the hazardouseffects of mining activity. They became ill asthey suffocated in the underground miningactivity. They could not concentrate on theaffairs of the family and children thatresulted in distress. Consuming alcohol and

high rate of crime were essential features ofcoalmine towns. On the other hand,mechanization in the coalmines and effects ofliberalization/globalization process resultedin retrenchment of employees. Open cast methodof coal production lessened the manual work andgave space to gigantic machinery. Some of thecoalmines were closed due to lack of coalminedeposits. Contract/private workers, VoluntaryRetirement Scheme (VRS), regularization oftrade unions and other such developmentsrestricted the liberty of the workers. In thiscontext this study tries to estimate the livesof the SCCL in an objective manner.

The on going economic reforms have a tremendouseffect on every sphere of activity. Severalsectors have undergone drastic changesincorporating the required amendments. Sectorslike agriculture are being faced a criticalphase of committing suicides. Situation inother sectors particularly in the rural areasis also worse. Artisans like traditionalweavers are also committing suicides due tolack of employment opportunities. Activists,trade unions and political parties,particularly left wing, are criticizing the ongoing economic reforms in the country.

These reforms have also impacted the SCCL insuch a manner that the miners and otheremployees working in the Company are not secureof their positions. In the early 90s, there

were 61 mines and the number of employees inthe SCCL is 1.12 lacks. Now there are 58 minesand 85,000 employees. Mechanization in the coalproduction process resulted in retrenchment ofseveral employees. A single drag line machinecould replace thousands of workers and moreover it works 24 hours a day. Importing newtechnology from European countries particularlyGermany, introduction of computers in theoffices also resulted in cutting down the sizeof workforce in the SCCL.

Hazardous working conditions in the undergroundcaused ill-health of the workers. Despitesafety measures, a number of mishaps took placein the underground mines. It is well knownthat in July 2003, 17 miners died inunderground water mishap in GDK 7. Again inOctober of the same year, 10 miners have dieddue to falling down of (underground) roof in 8Amine. Trade union politics are also worthdiscussion in the study. It was blamed that onseveral occasions the trade unions gave callsof strike for their selfish ends. However, inthe coalmine towns, the lives of the minershave undergone several changes in tune with theimpact of liberalization process. In thiscontext, this paper seeks to address the livesof miners in the SCCL.

2. The Company Limited Singareni Collieries

2.1 Map of coalmine area

The Singareni reserves stretch over 350 km. ofPranahita-Godavari valley of Andhra Pradesh inthe districts of Khammam, Adilabad, Karimnagarand Warangal, with geological reservesaggregating to a whopping 8091 million tons.SCCL currently operates 11 opencast and 47underground mines with a manpower of82,869.Here is the map of the area showing coalfields under the SCCL.

2.2 Brief history of the SCCL

In the year 1871, Dr. King1 of the GeologicalSurvey of India discovered coal near a villagein Khammam district. The Hyderabad (Deccan)Company Limited incorporated in Englandacquired mining rights in 1886 to exploit coalfound in Yellandu area. The present Companywas incorporated on 23rd December 1920 underthe Hyderabad Companies Act as a public limitedcompany with the name “The Singareni CollieriesCompany Limited”(SCCL). It acquired all theassets and liabilities of the Hyderbad (Deccan)Company Limited. Best & Company acted asSecretaries and Selling Agents. The State ofHyderabad purchased majority shares of theCompany in 1945. From 1945 to 1949, theHyderabad Construction Company Limited wasacting as Managing Agent. In 1949 thisfunction was entrusted to Industrial Trust Fundby the then Government of Hyderabad. Thecontrolling interest of the Company devolved onthe Government of Andhra Pradesh in 1956pursuant to the reorganization of States.Thus, the SCCL became a Government Companyunder the Companies Act in 1956.

Large-scale expansion of SCCL was undertakenduring the initial Five-year plans. In 1960the Government of India started itsparticipation in the equity of the Company andalso started extending loan assistance. Thussince March 1960, it has been jointly owned bythe Government of Andhra Pradesh and theGovernment of India. In 1974 the Government ofIndia transferred its share capital to the Coal

Mines Authority Limited. The manner ofextending financial assistance for expansion ofSCCL by the Government of Andhra Pradesh andthe Government of India during Fifth Five yearplan period was agreed upon in the Four partyAgreement executed on 10th June 1974.Subsequently, the Government of India decidedto control its equity directly in SCCL.Accordingly, agreement was concluded on 13th

December 1977. The SCCL, the Government ofAndhra Pradesh, the Government of India andCoal India Limited were parties to theagreement. These two agreements are popularlycalled quadripartite agreements.

For financial and other assistance during VI,VII, VIII, and IX&X Plan periods, separateagreements were executed on 31st March. 1985,10th February 1989, 24th September 1994, 11th

January 2002 and 19th October 2004 between theGovernment of India, the Government of AndhraPradesh and SCCL. These agreements are calledtripartite agreements.

The Company’s accredited function is to exploreand exploit the coal deposits in the Godavarivalley coalfield, which is the only repositoryof coal in South India. Mining activities ofthe SCCL are presently spread over fourdistricts of Telangana region of Andhra PradeshViz. Adilabad, Karimnagar, Khammam andWarangal. The studies of Geological Survey ofIndia attribute as much as 16997 million tonsof coal reserves in the Godavari valley

coalfield. The inventory covers up to a depthof 1200 metres and it includes reservesconfirmed, indicated as well as inferred. Thecoal extract by SCCL in the Godavari valleycoalfield up to the year 2004-05 was about 721million tons.

2.3 Different kinds of mines

Mines can be simply categorized into two. Oneis open cast and another is underground.Currently 47 underground and 11 open cast minesare there in SCCL. Open cast mine for the firsttime was started in 1974 in Ramagundam area andthe mine was named as OCP-I. Here are thedetails of the mines and their location.

               Table showing District-wise operational areas of SCCLSl.No

Name of the District

Name of the area

No.ofunderground mines

No.of Open cast mines

Total

1 Khammam KothgudemYellanduManuguru

433

132

565

2 Adilabad BellampallyMandamarriSrirampur

364

--3

367

3 Karimnag Ramagunda 14 2 16

ar m4 Warangal Bhupalapa

lly10 - 10

Total 47 11 58

http://scclmines Dated 28.11.2006

Some of the underground mines were closed dueto lack of coal deposits. Ofcourse there is alist of upcoming projects of which around 28are open cast and 4 underground mines. Sincemining activity is safe and cost effectivethrough open cast, the SCCL is giving toppriority to go with open cast mines.

2.4 Employment

The coal industry is one of the biggestindustries in the country spreading over 13states. It employs more than 800,000 workers(now reduced to 500,000). Workers are generallyengaged in three methods of coal production.They are open cast, long wall2 andconventional.

There is a process to engage the number ofemployees in the mining activity in the SSCL.On the basis of the targets fixed for each mineand department, production plans are prepared.On the basis of production plans, manpowerassessment is carried out. As per the manpower

assessment of mines and departments, additionalmanpower requirements for the whole company arefinalized (T.Narendar: 1990:100).

People hailing from lower caste constitute abulk in any working group category. It is theBackward class; Scheduled Caste and ScheduledTribe people who join in the mining industry aslarge as mine workers. Most of them illiterate.Of course there are miners are with thequalifications of SSC, Inter or in some cases,with Degree.

The socio-economic background of the coalminelabour is well known. They remain rural incharacter and also have a strong rural nexus.It has drawn low caste peasants and artisanswho joined the ranks of coalmine labour due todisintegration of village economy. Some ofthem inherited labour status from theirfathers, but most of them joined out of theirown as they did not find any alternative sourceof employment. Their background shows thatthey are slowly transforming themselves intoworking class families from the earliercategory of casual agricultural labourfamilies.

The shadow of the old caste system isreappearing in the coal industry where theupper castes dominate the jobs of officers,supervisors and contractors while the hard workof mine loaders and contractual workers goes to

the downtrodden, scheduled caste and scheduledtribes (AK Roy: 2004:62)

The total number of employees during the yearsof 2000-01 is around 1, 05,627 but the numberreduced to around 80,000 during the years of2005-06. With the advent of reforms in the coalfields, the number of open cast mines isincreasing and at the same time the number ofunderground mines is decreasing. To put thisinto other words, the number of employees inthe SCCL is going to decrease.

2.5 Production

From the 47 underground and 11 open cast mines,by employing 82,869 manpower, the targetproduction set for the year 2005-06 is 36million tons. But the actual production for thesame period of the SCCL is 36.13 million tons.It is the worth of Rs.4209 crores of revenue.This is the best ever produced in the historyof SCCL. The Company has also recorded thebest ever-recorded dispatches of 35.31 milliontons in the history of SCCL. For the year 2006-07 the target set is 37.50 million tons.

Table showing the details of productionSl.N

Production

Units

2005-06

2004-05

2004-04

2002-03

o.1 Open

castLakh Tons

234.27

223.29

205.40

204.28

2 Underground

Lakh Tons

127.11

129.74

133.14

128.08

3 Total Lakh Tons

361.38

353.03

338.54

332.36

http://scclmines dated 28.11.2006

2.6 Supply

Major consumers of the coal of SCCL arePower, Cement and other industries. BesidesAndhra Pradesh, the SCCL is catering the coalneeds of around five thousand small mediumand major industries in the states ofKarnantak, Gujarat, Maharastra, Kerala andTamil Nadu. Coal is being used in thefollowing industries.

Agro-products, Bio-mass power, Bricks,Captive power, Ceramics, Refractors,Chemicals, Cigarettes, Contractors,Crucibles, Dairy, Distilleries, Dying,Printing, Electrical, Electronics, Ginning,Processing, Glass, Laminations, Leather,

Lime, Major Cements, Metals, Alloys, Mineralprocessing, Pulverization, Mini Cements,Oils, Solvent extractions, Packing, Paperproducts, Paper, Pulp, Pharmaceuticals,Drugs, Power, Rubber, Foam products,Sandalwood, sizing, Smith and Foundry, Sodiumsilicate, Starch, Steel, Re-rolling. Straw,Wood products. Surgical cotton, Textiles,Tiles, Tobacco, Redrying, and Tyre.

2.7 Economy of SCCL

The SCCL has undergone several setbacksbefore becoming a profit making company. From1989 onwards, the company was starteddeclining day after day and by the year 1997,the company was not in a position to pay thesalary bills of the employees. The losseswent up to Rs. 1219 crores during the yearsof 1996-97. It was in such a patheticposition that it was sent for theconsideration of BIFR.

Several reasons were identified for the abovesituation. Ineffective production methods,determination right of the coal price,ineffective work and supervision, not gettingpermissions for new mines, trade unions andtheir strikes are some of the prominentreasons for the loss in the company.

Later on by implementing strict and stridentrules in the company with the out rightsupport of the state government under the

leadership of N. Chandra Babu Naidu, thecompany started gaining profits during theyear 1997-98 themselves. What’s more, by theyear 2002-03 the company reached to the levelof overcoming the losses and started makingprofit after 37 long years. A total of Rs.417 crores of profit was made in that period.The following table best explains thefinancial status of the company.

Table showing financial status of the SCCLSN Indicator 2005-

062004-05

2003-04

2002-03

1 Net sales 362910 341373

317865 314183

2 Net profit before tax

33249 57601 50399 41172

3 Accumulated profit/loss

17642profit

19060profit

2815profit

8045profit

4 General reserve

30000 20000 10000 ---

5 Equity share capital

173320 173320

173320 173320

6 Long-termdebt

--- --- 13356 23813

7 Net worth 206392 210973

182786 175575

8 Capital 217571 19031 153464 15143

employed 1 99 Contribut

ion to Exchequer(State Govt)

55818 51543 49181 45976

10 Contribution to Exchequer(Central Govt)

23225 26369 23547 5594

             http://scclmines             28.11.2006

The company got several honors and awards forits performance. It won the Golden PeacockInnovation Management Award-2005, Best OverallPerformance Award-2003 and the Best ManagementAward 2001-02. These awards speak volumes ofthe economic sphere of its activity.

3.The miner

3.1 Working conditions

Though it is eight hours of duty, the minerundergoes severe physical and mental traumaduring his working hours at the mine. Most ofthe miners reach their mine on cycles and motor

cycles and other public transport methods. Butwalking (to reach the work spot) is the firstproblem in the underground mines. It was alsoreported that long hours of work with headlampare causing night blindness among the miners.Many of the pits were found to be very hot andsome times miners have to work in knee-deepwater. The lavatory and urinal facilities werenot provided in the underground sufficientlyand the workers were using the old pits toease-out themselves. But this leads to air andwater pollution, which will affect the healthof the miners.

Coal fillers have to do hard work. At everywork spot four to six files of workers continuetheir job. A file comprises of a two-membergang of workers and out of two, one lifts thecoal into the tub using chemmas3 (spade),another one shifts the coal from basket totubs. The capacity of a basket is nearly 45 to50 kilograms and each chemmas weights nearly 10kgs. And this is used to lift coal so as tokeep it into a basket. The worker has to usethe chemmas atleast 4 to 5 times to fill up onebasket. While on his duty each worker has tofill up 100 to 125 baskets of coal by usingchemmas atleast 400 to 500 times a day. Thusit is rather difficult to lift the coal fromearth and again to put it into the basket. Asa result of this, the workers usually complainof backache and knee pains at bed times.

It is also observed that the miners arecompelled to work in abnormal situations likegas leakage, roof falling and unmanageableareas in third and fourth seem4 locations.There are occasions where they refused to dosuch work and go for strike. As a result thehigher officials identify the brain behind thestrike and punish them in various methods.There are also occasions where these minerswere sent out for other districts5 and engagethe badli fillers6 to do such abnormal work.

In the open cast mines more than 90 percent ofthe mining works are done by various machineslike dozers, drilling machines, shovelmachines, dragline machines and dumpers, andremaining works like replacement and pulling ofelectrical cable from one place to anotherplace and filling of explosives into drillshave been done by man power. Generally thedozer operators have to bear engine heat anddust throughout the work. These problems arevery drastic in summer season. In addition tothis, the worker suffers from backache andother body pains due to heavy shakes of thedozer. In the same way, the cable boys have towork exposing themselves to dust, sunlight andrain, and it is also difficult to pull orreplace the heavy weight cable from one placeto another. As a result quite often theysuffer from arm pains. Dumper operators have tooperate it under heat and dust and it isdifficult for them to drive the dumpers onsoily road. In rainy season the dumpers may as

well slip on the road. The workers at theconveyer belt have to be conscious and alert.They suffer from aches and asthma for stayingfor longer hours at the conveyor belt everyday. According to the ILO report, the Indiancoal mine workers are loosing 3840 calories ofenergy in their 8 hours duty (Rama Murthy Ch:1994:126).

Lighting is also a big problem in theunderground mines. The workers have to work indark places. They have to work in the midst ofdust particles of the coal for the entireworking hours and result in inhaling of thesame. They are supposed to wear dustmasks/cards7 but in practice they fail to doso. More over the ventilation facilities arealso inadequate in the underground. During thetimes of gas leakage’s in the mine theysuffocate and thus results in ill health.

It is these working conditions that drove mostof the miners to consume alcohol immediatelyafter their completion of duty. Severalofficials in the mine also complained that someof the miners turn up the duty only afterconsuming alcohol.

3.2 Living conditions

Coalmine workers lead a different life in thisarea. They come from a rural background withless advanced economic status. Hence theycannot afford to live in sociable conditions. A

majority of miners were leading their home lifein uncongenial environment as the Companyfailed to provide proper housing accommodationto them. The medical and health, educationaland recreational facilities provided to theworkers were also quite inadequate (R.RamReddy: 1986:333). Most of the miners areunable to benefit from the facilities providedby the Company and hence depend on other meansof amenities. More than 70 percent of theunderground labourers are migrant in character,which puts a lot of pressure on the Companyquarters. There is an acute water problem,insufficient unhealthy and insanitaryaccommodation for the households who are notprovided with Company quarters (Radha KrishnaSrirangam: 1990:327). The coal mine area townsare a blend of rural and urban characteristics.On the one hand the towns seem to be rural inas far as the miners’ side and their relatives’activities such as working hard in and out sidemine are considered. Some of the relatives andof course miners themselves involve in themaintaining of the cow’s, buffaloes and othercattle in order to gain from their products.This also makes them attach their previousoccupation in their native’s villages. On theother hand the towns also seem to be urban inproviding the facilities like theatres,restaurants, shopping complexes and other needsof city/town people.

The income of the miners is both not staticand not uniform. It depends on their amount of

work in the mine and also depends on themusters8 (attendance) in the month. Forinstance, coal filler who fills a tub per daygets (Rs.233 per day x 26 working days) anamount of Rs.6058. If he fills one and halftubs per day he gets (Rs.350 per day x 26working days) an amount of 9100 and if he iscapable of filling two tubs a day he will get(Rs.475 per day x 26 working days) an amountof Rs. 12,350. It is said that these (towtubs) category constitutes only ten percent ofthe total miners in the SCCL and the rest fallin either in first or in second category.

School facilities are inadequate in the coalmine area of SCCL. Miners want their childrento give better education in order to make themsettled in better positions. Actually it’s adream for them. But what they complain is thatthey do not have such education facilities inthe area and as a result they send theirchildren to cities and put them in residentialschools and colleges. It is also found thatthe parents in the coal mine areas do not wanttheir children to be influenced by the culturein the collieries. Here, in the collieries,the school and college students imitate thelatest fashions of the cinema/televisionprogrammes. It is this youth who giveperformance in the “recording dance programmes”in almost all the television channels. They aremuch exposed to bad habits like chewing gutkas,smoking, pornography and bad friendships. Everyhouse in the SCCL has DVD player, music system

with latest albums. It is well known that thelove/sex related crime is high in the area.Hence most of the miners send their children tocities.

Transport facilities are also inadequate inthe SCCL. There are only a limited number oflocal bus services in almost all the coal minetowns. That is why all these towns have outnumbered autos. Some of the miners havepurchased two wheelers on installment basisfacilitated by several financial firms.

But as far as the living conditions of theofficers are concerned, they enjoy lavishresidential buildings surrounded by vastgardens, swimming pools and other recreationalfacilities.

3.3 Health conditions

It is observed that the living and workingconditions in the coal mine area naturallyresult in ill health. The sanitary facilitiesare not at all provided in some units and, evenif they are provided, they are notproportionate to the workers’ strength.Although “first aid’ is an important facilityto be provided by the management in thecoalmine industry, but not much attention seemsto have been paid by the management towardsthis.

Coal fillers suffer from severe aches indifferent parts of the body. As it is alreadynoted, they inhale considerable amounts of dustparticles in the underground and it affectslungs. More over they consume large amounts ofalcohol in order forget their physical work andthat also worsens their health condition. It issaid that after obtaining 50 years, of age someof the under ground mine workers have beengoing for compulsory retirement from theirservice on medical grounds for being unfit forwork.

Doctors also play with the fate of the coalminers. There were incidents where the doctorsissued fitness certificates to those who areunfit for the duty and in which case thepatient has to attend the duty with hisailment. Doctors will also call police for evensmall skirmishes. Since most of the coalminers are illiterate, their language naturallyis rude to which doctors complain off and on.Everyday there will be a long queue of minersin the Area Hospital for treatment of differenthealth problems. The situation in the hospitalitself tells the story of health of the miners.Literature9 produced by writers like TummetiRaghottama Reddy, Allam Rajaiah, KaluvaMallaiah and others speak volumes of the livesof the miners in the SCCL.

Senior coal fillers after working several yearsin the SCCL are telling desperately “my bloodwas sucked by the devil called mine”.

3.4 Economic conditions

Coal miners lead a miserable life in the area.As already explained, because of their socio-economic background, they will not be in aposition to acquire all the necessities of thelivelihood. Unlike in the villages, they haveto purchase each and every item in the market.If we observe their monthly budget, theirexpenditure is in no way related to theirincome. Most of their income is spent ongrocery, school/college fee/transport, alcoholand occasional parties/shopping. Statistics arenot available, but it is estimated that in thecoal mine areas, the state accounts for highestsales of liquor. There are jokes on the coalminers about their alcohol habits. Severalhouseholds in the coal mine area depend on thegovernment/SCCL for their livelihood. Theypurchase their grocery through PDS fair priceshops. Almost all the miners and their familymembers depend on the Area Hospital (of theSCCL) for their medical treatment. But theseCompany hospitals have their own dubious namefor partiality in regard to the treatment, asthey served better for officials.

More over, these people go on purchasinghousehold articles like television sets, DVDplayers, air coolers10, refrigerators andcrockery. On the other hand their familymembers/parents in the native village forcethese miners to purchase a piece of

agricultural land. Of course expenditure ontheir children is also one of the importantaspects of the expenditure of the coal miner.This situation drove them to go for forcedsavings and debt traps. Therefore, microfinancial institutions, gir-gir banks, monthlychittis and other related activities flourishin the coal mine towns. It is an interestingphenomenon in the coal mine towns that on the9th day11 (pay day) of every month, right frommilk man to the owner of the grocery shop willbe present at the mine in order to collecttheir due from the coal miner.

4.The liberalization

4.1 Shift in coalmine policy

Economic reforms have a drastic impact on thecoal mine industry. In order to minimize thelosses and to gain profits through thecoalmines, the governments have shifted theirfocus and policy formulations in the industry.

The policy strictly banned the employmentopportunities and cut down the work forcethrough several measures. Mechanization policyis adopted. The emerging technological scenariois a combination of mechanized opencast mining;mechanized longwall mining is a conventional aswell as mechanized bord & pillar mining andsome special methods. Mechanized Opencast iscapable of yielding quick results with fewerwork forces.

The SCCL took the policy of one industry oneunion. In the year 1998 all the 78 tradeunions went for elections for recognition. Thisresulted in weakening of the trade unions andtheir strike culture.

More recently the SCCL is trying to privatizethe exploration of the coal deposits through‘advanced mining technologies and ‘high walltechnology’. It was already involved in thisprocess.

4.2 Mechanization

Mechanization in the process of coal productionis also taking place in the SCCL. For thefirst time in 1937 “coal drilling machines”were introduced in the mines and later on in1948 “shuttle cars” were introduced in theunderground mines. In 1951 “electrical loaddrills”, in 1953 “electric camp lamps”, in 1954“flame proof machinery was introduced. Highpower dumpers, walking draglines, shovels wereintroduced in 1975. Side dump loaders (SDL) andLoad-haul dumpers (LHD) were introduced in 1978and 1979 respectively. Shaft mining technologywas introduced to exploit the coal deposits atdepths beyond 400 metres. Though the SCCL hasoperated underground coalmines for the past 100years, it is only during the late 1970s thatthe first open cast-mining project wasinitiated. Introducing “long wall mechanizationmethod” was a crucial phase in the

mechanization process. When long walltechnology was finding root in the country inthe early 80s, the SCCL availed the opportunityand introduced the equipment in two of itsmines in the years 1983 and 1985.In 1986computers were introduced. In 1989 blastinggallery method was introduced and in 1994“inpit crushing technology” was imported fromGermany and introduced in OCP-2. Technology ofUK, Germany and Russia is being used in theSCCL for the upgradation of the mechanizationprocess.

     4.3 Accidents

The ILO estimates that at least 2.2 millionpeople die of work -relateddiseases and accidents every year, butsuspects that countries are grossly under-reporting the numbers. Though India reported222 fatal work-related accidents in 2001, theILO estimates the number might be closer to40,000(EPW: October8, 2006: Labour: South Asiain comparison: page4392). Coalmine industry isone of the most prone areas where accidentcould take place. In the Singareni Collieries,accidents are negligible in the opencastmines. But in the case of underground mines,they were found to be more and they are causedpredominantly due to “fall of roof”12 and also“haulage”13. Accidents are also occurring dueto the neglect of following the duty rules.Miners have to, by rule, wear gumshoes,helmets, headlamps, gloves during the mining

operations. The miners are violating most ofthese restrictions. More over, “No smoking inunderground mine, not to enter into the minewith hold or drink the liquor, travel by thetubs and from the haulage way” etc., areviolated by the workers. But, the management’sbecome alert only during the safety weeks.

An angry coal filler was complaining during thefield visit that “Safety officers speak ‘safetyfirst’ in the presence of the miners but theyspeak ‘out put first’ in the presence of thehigher officials”.

The issue of mechanization of mines hasimplications for livelihood as well. “Themechanization of mines, although ensures higherproduction, frequently gets blocked due topolitical reasons, raised for livelihoodconcerns,” says Gurdeep Singh, Professor,Indian School of Mines (ISM), Dhanbad(Padmaparna Ghosh: 2006:21). It is a well-knownfact in the SCCL that in order to achieve theproduction targets higher ups drove these poorcoal miners into dangerous circumstances. Now adays, the officials talk only the language ofstatistics to show their efficacy.

Right from the introduction of reforms in theSingareni, 211 accidents took place in which261 miners have died so far. No single inquiryis completed yet and resultantly no officialwas convicted (P. Ravindar: 2006:2). It isquite interesting to note that so far no report

was made against the safety department. Notonly the SCCL but all the coal companies arefollowing the same path. Several reportsincluding Kessurgarh Colliery Disaster report,Sudamdih Colliery Disaster report, ChansnalaColliery Disaster report suggest that most ofthe reports are prepared in tune with theestablishment (KV Subrahmanyam: 1977:1252).However accidents became a routine practice ofofficial error.

4.4 Retrenchment

The globalization process resulted in cuttingdown the size of work force in the SCCL.Ofcourse this is also true in case of all otherindustries in India and elsewhere. The growthin public employment has declined drasticallyfrom about 6 percent per year in the mid-1970sto a negative 1 percent in 2002-03 in publicenterprises owned and managed by the centralgovernment, in quasi public sector, and in thepublic sector as well(R. Nagaraj: 2006:2553).The following table shows how the work force inthe SCCL decreased over a period time.

Table showing retrenchment in SCCLYear Exec

utives

Monthly rated staff

Daily rated staff

Pieceratedworkers

Badli fillers

Badli workers

Total

2000-01

2,374

17,164

54,089

26,596

5,082

322 105,627

2001-02

2,381

17,003

49,516

26,617

3,626

299 99,442

2002-03

2,341

17,018

48,023

25,924

3,516

231 97,053

2003-04

2,371

17,460

44,751

25,260

3,691

189 93,722

2004-05

2,372

18,821

43,241

23,688

3,678

170 91,970

http://scclmines dated 28.11.2006

In 1991 there were 2050 officials and 1,16,918miners in the SCCL and after the reforms,within these 15 years the officials rose to2502 and miners decreased to 83,000(Vaartha:30.11.2006). The SCCL is trying to get rid offthe age-old workers in the name of VRS.Generally the target of every VRS is aspecific large group of employees drawingsizeable salary due to their seniority butcontributing less than the younger generationemployees with new skill mix required to meetthe challenges faced by the organization inthe highly competitive environment. For anemployee, VRS means a traumatic choice, sincea mid-career decision to leave a job not onlyhas monetary but also socio-psychologicalimpact on the rest of his life and future ofthe family (Rajasi Clerk (2004: 45). VRS hasits own negative effects. The amount receivedthrough VRS became a chief source of crime in

the families of coal miners. It is pathetic toknow that in some of the incidents, the minerswere killed by their own sons for the sake ofthe money got through VRS.

4.5 Trade union movement

Seshagiri Rao and Chalapathi Rao are said tobe the pioneers in the trade union movement inthe coal belt area. Almost all the tradeunions are there in the SCCL. AITUC, INTUC,CITU, HMS, BMS, SIKASA, GLBGKS are some of theprominent trade unions. Later on “One union-one industry” slogan came during the course ofreforms in the SCCL and resulted inrecognition of unions by the management inorder to control the number of strikes in theSCCL.

The question of honesty of the leader in thetrade union is an important aspect of thetrade union movement in any industry. Some ofthe studies show that the workers in generalexpressed that the leaders were honest anddedicated (38 percent in SCCL and 34.8 percentin BCCL) but those who said that the leaderswere selfish and corrupt also did not lagbehind in terms of numbers (30.7 percent inSCCL and 32.6 percent in BCCL) (N. Trachu:1999:167). The literature available on coalminers tells the stories of the bankruptcy ofthe trade union leaders.

There are other reasons for the weakening ofthe trade union movements. In most cases thereis a numerical decline of the work force due tointroduction of the technology and employingthe contract workers in the industries. Thereare also arguments against the trade unions fornot accepting the reality. The neo-liberalcritics accuse trade unions of many things;that they resist introduction of technologicalchanges, stall efforts to introduce flexibilitymeasures, obstruct introduction of productivityenhancing measures, fight strongly againstrational market solutions etc (KR Shyam Sundar:2006:204). Adding fuel to this situation in hisbudget speech in 2001, Yashwant Sinha, the thenunion minister for finance announced that theIndustrial Disputes Act (1947) would be amendedto raise the threshold under which employerscould retrench workers without prior permissionand notification, from 100 workers to 1,000.This gross and highly irregular intrusion intothe jurisdiction of the Union Labour Ministrypassed largely unremarked by the drumbeaters ofthe globalization project (SukumarMuralidharan: 2005:9). Government mechanism inIndia systematically deprives the right tostrike bandh and other labour rights. But inthe US even the much criticized National LabourAct recognizes the right of labour organizationto go for collective bargaining and thusrecognizes the right of such employees’ refusalto work (Rajindar Sachar: 2004:56). But ourgovernment, which claims to be socialisticpattern, did not provide any such rights to the

army of workers. It seems that the trade unionsare also a part of the monopoly structure inthe capitalist system. Strikes, bandhs, go-slows, etc. have helped the industry to createcontrived scarcity of industrial products inthe market. They would willingly supply thisto the trade union movement (Bokare GD:2006:29).

There are still trade unions and major strikesin India, but there seems to be less and lesspolicy and academic interest in them. Thereappear to be three main reasons for this.First, trade unions have largely failed toeffectively organize within the majorityinformal economy and left the job ofrepresentation to NGOs such as women’s textilecooperatives. Second, trade unions have failedto develop a modern, forward-looking strategyin response to changes in the economy and work,such as the partnership model fund in othercountries. Third, the corporate sector is theengine of the new growth and has a powerfulinfluence on government thinking (Peter Ackers:2006:4189).

Using police force in order to control thetrade unions and their activities is also aworldwide phenomenon. Saint Ann’s massacre inBolivia where 87 miners died in the firing on24th June 1967 is a classic case of example(Katyayani: 2006:189). We have alreadywitnessed in India the suppression of tradeunion movement in textile industry in Western

India. Gurgaon was the showpiece of theincident in the Indian global economy. Suchincidents also became a regular feature forthe television channels to show the barbaricattach of the police on the workers. Thegovernments are also openly criticizing theworkers. Following a nationwide strike in thelast week of September, 2006 in which almost50 million workers participated, West BengalChief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjeeapologized to the Info Tech companies inKolkata for the inconvenience caused by thestrike (Satarupa Bhattacharjya: 2006:28).While the decline of unions is acknowledged tobe a worldwide phenomenon of recent origin,there has not been much systematic thinking onthe specific dynamics of this decline or itspossible reversal.

Here in the SCCL several members of theSikasa14 were branded as Naxalites and killedthem. A short story titled “Athadu” (He) byAllam Rajaiah best explains this situation.However the management successfully checkedout all the activities of the trade unions.Previously there used to be number of strikesin a single year. But now in the year 2005-06,there are only 11 strikes reported in theSCCL, which is a record after the introductionof reforms.

5. Conclusion

The miners of SCCL are in the clutches ofstrong management that is capable enough todictate the terms. Trade unions becameliterally ineffective in the context ofliberalization. Permanent labourers arecompelling to go for VRS and the temporaryworkers are not in a position to fight with themanagement being feared of termination. Thewithdrawal of the state’s protection andpatronage has occurred in a context whereincreasing legitimacy has been accorded to theadoption of market-friendly approaches towardsindustrial development. However, marketizationhas not spelt labour prosperity in the Indiancontext (Jos Mooij: 2005:288). Introduction ofnew technology in the SCCL is increasinglybecoming a regular feature in order to decreasethe manual workforce. As it is alreadyexplained senior miners are forced to go forVRS and new employees if at all taken, arecontractual who virtually have no rights.Earlier, the poor who joined the coal industryas casual or contractual workers used to becomeregular workers. Now a contract worker cannotbecome a regular worker and has to die orretire as contract worker.

Despite working for long years in the SCCL thecoal miners are not getting their proper due.Moreover, they are subjected for suppression.Most of the miners are in depression. Becausethey have sacrificed their lives in the hotmine pits by inhaling the coal dust particlesin order at least to make their children happy.

But this is not becoming a reality. Theirchildren are becoming idle youth without anygoal. There may be exceptions but most of theyouth are at the most becoming contract coalfillers and the rest are becoming auto drivers.Their blood and sweat have gone unrecognizedand useless. The position of the coal mineworkers in the SCCL is best illustrated by thefollowing statement.

In his “Letters from Russia”, RabindranathTagore wrote about the toiling people: “Theyare like a lampstand bearing the lamp of thecivilization on their heads while the peoplereceive light while they are smeared withtricking oils”.

Notes

1. Dr. King was worked with Geological Surveyof India and found coal in the village“Singareni” in Yellendu of Khammam district.One of the important coal seams bore his name.

2. Long wall is one method of exploiting thecoal deposits in the SCCL. Unlike conventionalunderground and Opencast this long wallrequires both technology and manual workers.Traditional blasting methods will not be usedin this system and machinery is used to dragthe coal.

3. Chemmas is the name given to the spade usedby the coal filler in the underground mines.The origin of the word is not known, but somesay it might come from ‘chamcha’ (spoon).

4. Seam is a layer of the coal in theunderground coal mine. Some of the seams willhave up to 20 feet high and are said to be themost dangerous and coal fillers refuse to workin these seams.

5. Districts are of different locations in theunderground mines. There will be four to fivedistricts in each mine and some have up toeight also. Each district is again dividedinto two to six different work spots.

6. Badli filler is also a coal filler, but hedid not have any specific work spot. We cancall them as reserved coal fillers and allottedduty as per the requirement in different workspots. Whenever the coal fillers refused to dothe work assigned to them, these badli fillerswill be engaged in this hard work. They aresaid to be the scapegoats in the SCCL.

7. Dust cards/masks are supposed to be suppliedby the SCCL in order to safeguard the lungs ofthe miners from inhaling dust particles. Butin practice the SCCL failed to provide the dustmasks. During the visit of VIPs and on the eveof safety weeks, these masks will be suppliedto wear.

8. Muster is attendance of the coal miners.Only after the muster they will be given thebattery and headlamp which are necessary forthe underground miners.

9. Literature on coal miners is available inthe form of folk songs, poetry, short storiesand novels. Tummeti Raghottama Reddy and AllamRajaiah are prominent writers in this field.“Nalla Vajram” (Novel), “Nalla Kaluvalu” (Shortstories) and Boggu Porallo” (Short stories) aresome of the prominent works on the coal miners.Actually a student in Telugu department fromKakatiya University also carried out an M.Philthesis on this literature.

10. Air coolers are almost compulsory for allthe households in the SCCL as the temperaturein this coal mines goes high during the summerseason. It is well known that Ramagundamrecords as high as 45 degrees centigrade.Hence air coolers and other cooling appliancesare a necessity for the coal miners.

11. 9th day of every month in the SCCL ispayday for the coal miners. Almost a festivemood could be found in the nook and corner ofthe SCCL on that particular day. Every coalmine worker will be present on that date.

12. Fall of roof is one of the chief causes ofthe accidents in the underground mines. In theprocess of exploitation of the coal the miners

in the underground mine construct a temporaryroof with the support of woods. But some timesit falls with the weight of the coal on theroof.

13. Haulage is mechanized way of track lineused for the transportation of the coal tubsfrom the underground mine to the surface andagain from surface to the underground. Sometimes coal miners also use the haulage forjourney, which is highly dangerous.

14. Sikasa is a trade union in the SCCL andenjoyed the auspices of the Maoists.

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