KOIDA (SUNDARGARH):Top leaders of Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU) on Saturday gathered at Kalta in Koida mining circle of Sundargarh district to protest mechanisation of mining and loading operations of SAIL.
Addressing a gathering at Kalta football ground, Left leaders strongly protested SAIL’s decision to mechanise mining operation at Kalta iron mine and Roxy railway loading siding and claimed that it would render more than 3,300 contractual workers jobless. They threatened to stage an agitation if SAIL went ahead with its mechanisation decision. They also demanded that National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) immediately complete upgradation of NH-520, which is in a deplorable condition.
CITU national general secretary Tapan Sen exhorted the steel and mining workers to unite against the economic policies of Narendra Modi Government. He appealed to them to make the nation-wide agitation, scheduled on March 10, a grand success. The stir has been called to protest rising prices of essential commodities, privatisation of public sector companies, amendment to labour laws and undue favour shown to multi-national companies.
Earlier, the leaders participated in a rally. Among others, Rajya Sabha member Tapan Sen, national vice-president Bishnu Mohanty, national secretary K Hemlata, CITU-affiliated Steel Workers’ Federation of India general secretary PK Das and Odisha unit CITU president Lambodar Nayak were present.