Fast-unto-death by villagers

Statesman News Service DURGAPUR, 27 December

They sacrificed agricultural acres 22 years ago so coal could be taken out of Eastern Coalfield’s mines. The villagers are reduced to penury now.Today, 59 of them began a fast-unto-death in front of the Kenda Rea headquarters.

The coal ministry, in November, asked ECL to give them jobs but the company is allegedly indifferent to the villagers’ plight.

Previously, it rejected their demand for employment saying the selection criteria had been changed. ECL acquired about 70 acres in 1984 for railway sidings at Bahula and Chora.

Mr Sachinath Chakraborty and Mr Uttam Pal, who had given their plots away, said: “ECL was to give a job for each acre sacrificed but there was a long wait subsequently during which it changed its compensation policy to one appointment for two acres. “It hit us hard. The change suited it but why should we suffer when outsiders are getting jobs in ECL?”

On 14 November, Mr Shibu Soren, former coal minister, ordered ECL to ensure the villagers’ rehabilitation.

Mr Sanjeev Kumar, chief personnel manager of the Kenda area, said: “I haven’t been instructed to do anything. When the villagers began their fast, I informed our Sanktoria headquarters of the matter.”