Santhal and Kolhan regions continue to be the main theater in Jharkhand elections. While the BJP is trying to make a dent in Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s home region of Santhal Pargana by raising the issue of infiltration, the opposition party is also eyeing the Kolhan region. After Kolhan Tiger Champai Soren’s party change, eyes are also fixed on who the people of Kolhan trust in the new circumstances, but apart from regional and caste politics, if we talk about community politics, then the wards and seats of the assembly under the The influence of coal workers is also under discussion.
The influence of coal workers is not limited to just Koylanchal or Dhanbad and Jharia assembly seats. Coal workers’ influence extends to 14 districts and about two dozen seats in the state. Coal mining is carried out in 14 districts of Jharkhand and in these districts there are a large number of employees who are related to coal mining companies or are directly or indirectly associated with coal mining.
Talking about the seats under the influence of coal workers, this list includes Dhanbad and Jharia seats of coal region along with Ranchi, Kanke, Ramgarh, Baghmara, Sindri, Nirsa, Gomio, Tundi, Bermo, Mandu, Giridih , Barkagaon, Latehar, Simaria. , Chandankiyari, Borio, Sarath, Pakur and Mahagama are the names of the assembly seats.
What is the strength of coal workers?
Talking about the strength of coal workers, coal mining work is done in the state by three public sector companies of Coal India. Along with these three companies, power companies like NTPC, Punjab Electricity Board, West Bengal Power Corporation and many private companies also carry out mining work. There are around one lakh regular employees in these companies working in the mining sector.
If the families of these employees are also included, this figure exceeds four lakhs. If we add the irregular employees and former employees, as well as their families, the strength of the coal workers becomes even greater. These coal workers play a decisive role in deciding victory and defeat in about two dozen seats in the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly.
Who took what steps to help coal workers?
To bring coal workers into their fold, political parties seem to be focusing on fielding a candidate among themselves along with a barrage of promises. About a dozen such candidates who are coal workers or have connections to union politics are contesting the Jharkhand election battle.
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BJP candidate from Jharia Assembly seat Raginin Singh is associated with the union, while Congress candidate from Bermo Anoop Singh is an office-bearer of the INTUC party union. Randhir Singh, BJP MLA from Sarath seat, has also been associated with the coal workers union. Nirsa candidate Arup Chatterjee has been raising the voice of Coal India workers. The names of Congress candidate from Baghmara Jaleshwar Mahato and BJP candidate from Barkagaon Roshan Chaudhary are also in the list of candidates associated with the union.
What are the problems in these areas?
In the districts and areas where land has been acquired for coal mining, this has been done in accordance with the Coal Bearings Act. The Government of India is involved in the procurement under this Act and the legal provisions are such that even for small works, the Government of Jharkhand has to obtain appropriate permission from the concerned company carrying out the mining work.
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This authorization process is so lengthy that elected public representatives seem to avoid carrying out any development work with their own funds. As a result of this or intention, the people of these areas, who have almost a quarter of the say in the power of Jharkhand, have to fight for even basic amenities like roads, electricity and water. Government facilities like housing and drainage do not reach these areas.
