As the government fast-tracks reforms in labour laws and the mining sector, it would do better to take stakeholders into confidence. Instead, the government is bulldozing its way through, passing one ordinance after another. Hence, it comes as no surprise that about five lakh coal workers have struck work.

The workers fear de-nationalisation of the coal industry will lead to job and wage cuts. During a debate in the winter session of Parliament, Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia and Trinamool Congress leader Saugata Roy questioned the government’s rush to get the ordinance passed.

Justifying the action, Power Minister Piyush Goyal claimed that the government did not do anything in a hurry, it merely wanted to ensure adequate coal output. Therefore, it kick-started the process of auctioning coal blocks cancelled by the Supreme Court to avoid a situation of energy shortage, he argued. However, the unions claim that after the Presidential nod to the ordinance on October 21, the government amended the Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act, 1973, paving the way for mining to be opened to private firms. Coal India Ltd (CIL) will be among these companies.

The strike comes at a time when the government is pulling out all stops in order to ease ‘doing business’. It should sound alarm bells to policymakers who are in a hurry to move on. Surprisingly, the coal industry’s recent strike has failed to make news. Opinion-makers are only concerned about power outages.

Is it unfair for workers to say they should be consulted? The BJP-backed Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh leader BN Rai said that four months ago they had asked Goyal to talk to trade unions prior to passing the Bills, but he had not. On Monday, the Cabinet cleared the ordinance for the Mines and Minerals Act. What was the urgency behind doing so, just before the Budget session? If Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mission of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas is to succeed it cannot afford to walk a one-way street on crucial decisions.

Aditi Nigam, Deputy Editor

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