Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], August 10 : Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader and Telangana Jagruthi founder K Kavitha on Sunday announced a significant development in the Singareni coal belt area, where Telangana Jagruthi, an organization she founded, has allied with the Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS) to advocate for the welfare of coal mine workers at Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL).
"Today, Telangana Jagruthi, which already works in the Singareni area very closely, has now decided to form an alliance with Hindu Mazdoor Sabha (HMS) to work towards the welfare of the coal mine workers of Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL)," Kavitha told ANI.
This partnership aims to bring about a positive change in working towards the rights of coal mine workers, whose welfare has been allegedly undermined by the Congress government.
The Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) is a government-owned coal mining corporation operating in Telangana, with a significant presence in the state's coal belt area. The company has a complex history, dating back to 1871 when coal was first discovered in the region. Today, SCCL operates 40 mines across six districts in Telangana and contributes 9.2% to India's domestic coal production.
HMS is a national-level trade union organisation and has representation on the Central Wage Board, which plays a role in setting wages for coal mine workers.
Kavitha noted that this collaboration aims to bring positive changes to the labour rights environment.
She said, "HMS is an all-India organisation that also has a membership in the Central Wage Board. This alliance will bring out a very positive change in working towards the rights of the coal mine workers. Especially the welfare of the coal mine workers has been severely undermined by the Congress government."
Meanwhile, on August 4, the BRS MLC had launched a 72-hour hunger strike at Dharna Chowk in Hyderabad, demanding urgent clearance of the Telangana OBC Reservation Bill that gives 42% quota for Backwards Classes (BC) in government jobs, educational institutions, and local body elections.
Speaking to ANI ahead of her hunger strike, Kavitha accused both the Congress and the BJP of "playing with the destinies of OBCs of Telangana."
"We have started our hunger strike for 72 hours demanding that the Telangana OBC Bill, guaranteeing 42% reservations for the OBCs, which is pending with the President, should immediately be given assent. Alternatively, there is also an ordinance pending at the Governor's level; we demand that it be passed immediately. Both Congress and BJP are playing with the destinies of OBCs of Telangana..." she said.
She announced her hunger strike on Sunday and criticised the Congress party for failing to fulfil their election campaign promise of giving 42 per cent OBC reservation.
She said, "Congress and BJP have been lying to the OBCs of Telangana. Congress promised 42% reservation for the OBCs during the elections. BJP now says that it will give reservations only if there are no Muslims in the OBCs. Congress has till now not cleared if Muslims are included in the 42% bill that has been sent to the President for approval."
She was later "compelled" to call off the hunger strike after the Telangana High Court declined permission for Telangana Jagruthi and the United Phule Front (UPF) to use the dharna chowk premises.
In a post on X, Kavitha wrote, "I am compelled to call off my 72-hour fast this evening as the Honourable High Court has declined permission for Telangana Jagruthi and United Phule Front (UPF) from using the dharna chowk premises. However, Jagruthi and UPF will come back with a much stronger strategy, involving legal and other forms, to build pressure on both the Congress and BJP parties, which are continually denying the OBCs their rightful share in the local body elections."