Hereditary appointments in SCCL Some cheer, some rue

Kothagudem: The State government has given green signal to hereditary employment in the public sector Singareni Collieries Company Limited. After a gap of 15 years, stage is set for hereditary employment in the SCCL.

Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao’s assurance to the SCCL workers on hereditary employment brought cheers to the work force. In 2002, the united AP government had issued a GO prohibiting hereditary employment the famed company.

SCCL workers, who attained the age ranging from 48 to and 59 years as on October 11, are entitled to relinquish their jobs in favour of their son or son-in-law or brother. Those who wish to be recruited under the hereditary grounds should be in the age group of 18 years to 35 years. While some are critical of the decisions, some have begun to kick off celebrations and some are preparing the group to protest against the decision. The SCCL workers who identify themselves as VRS victims of four districts (1997-2001) feel that TRS government has let them down. They are preparing the ground to seek a legal solution to their problem.

The joy of families of the unemployed knew no bounds as they have got scope to become employed. Singareni Collieries Workers’ Union State Deputy General Secretary (AITUC) D Seshaiah speaking to The Hans India opined that there was legality to the hereditary jobs and described it as an election stunt. He demanded the labour commissioner to enter into an agreement to this effect with the SCCL management if the State government was really committed to implementing hereditary jobs in the coal company. He dismissed it as a one-time policy.

Legislator Jalagam Venkat Rao termed it as a historic victory. He described it as a red letter day. Speaking to The Hans India, he said the TRS government fulfilled the promise it made to the SCCL workers. The families of workers’ are in a mood to celebrate, he said, dismissing the opposition criticism on hereditary appointment as mere trash.

PV Satyanarayana