ANGUL : Iratecoal workers of Jagannath area of Talcher Coalfield staged an agitation with the body of a fellow worker in the area office for 18 hours from Friday night to Saturday afternoon after the authorities denied rehabilitation benefits for the kin of the deceased.
The deceased has been identified as Bhagawan Bhukta of Rakash village at Talcher. He was unmarried but had an adopted daughter aged 13 years.
According to reports, the colliery employee, working in Jagannath coal mine, died of illness on Friday. His fellow workers reached the General Manager’s office seeking benefits, including job to Bhukta’s family member as per the MCL rules. They wanted the GM to be present to hear their grievances.
As the General Manager did not turn up despite repeated appeals by the trade union leaders nor did he send any message regarding benefits to family members, the enraged workers kept the body in the office of Area Personal Manager throughout the night and left the place. They returned on Saturday morning and resorted to cease work over the callous attitude of the GM.
On the intervention of MCL top brass, some officials from the management came for talks on Saturday and assured Bhukta’s family members that they would give a job to his adopted daughter in the company after she attains 18 years.
After the assurance, the workers shifted the body from the office at around 2 pm and work resumed at the mines.
A trade unionist said had the management acted on time and given the assurance on Friday night, the body would not have been kept in the colliery office all through night.