by Siddharth Pandey
Chaibasa: The indefinite slowdown protest led by joint union workers and contract laborers at SAIL’s Gua mine entered its eighth consecutive day on July 11, under the leadership of former Chief Minister Madhu Koda.
Koda arrived at his residence in Gua this afternoon as per the scheduled program, accompanied by hundreds of protesters, union officials, Manki-Munda representatives, and unemployed individuals from Saranda villages.
Addressing the gathering, Koda emphasized that the unity shown by the protesters has greatly perturbed the management of SAIL and Gua. He clarified that the aim of the agitation is not to disrupt SAIL’s operations but to advocate for justice and fair rights for educated unemployed individuals in the affected villages and towns near the mine.
He expressed concern over the lack of job opportunities for locals, even in lower-grade recruitments.
Koda informed that senior officials from SAIL and BSL (Bokaro) are scheduled to meet in the evening at the Meghalaya Guest House in SAIL, Meghahatuburu, to discuss the protesters’ four-point demands.
The outcome of this meeting will determine the future course of action and decisions for the protest. Koda asserted that despite efforts by Gua management to intimidate and weaken the protesters, the movement has only gained momentum.
Since the beginning of the agitation on July 4, demands have included the immediate reinstatement of 18 S-3 grade SAIL employees recruited from outside, equal pay and benefits for contract laborers, job opportunities for dependents of retired SAIL employees, and 100 per cent employment for unemployed residents of Saranda villages and Gua affected by the mine, amounting to 500 positions in Gua mine.
Despite three rounds of inconclusive meetings with CGM Kamal Bhaskar of Gua, the agitation has persisted, resulting in an estimated loss of Rs 4-5 crore for Gua management. Protest activities have included torch processions, effigy burnings of SAIL officers, and sieges of the general office.
Labor leaders Rama Pandey, Vishwajit Tanti, Pancham George Soy, Jaisingh Nayak, Sonaram PinGua, Manoj Mukherjee, Rajesh Koda, Ramesh Gop, Antaryami Mahakud, Panchas Bhadon Toppo, along with numerous others, have been actively participating in the protests.
