CPI(M) leader says – “Locals are being deprived of employment; privatization of Coal India is a loot of national resources.”
Ranchi:Brinda Karat, Polit Bureau member and senior leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), has accused the Central Government of handing over the country’s natural resources to private corporations. She said that the privatization of coal mines (coal blocks) has become a major cause of displacement and loss of livelihood for local communities.
Addressing a press conference in Ranchi on Wednesday, Karat said that the Central Government’s policies are designed to benefit big corporates, while adversely affecting the tribal, indigenous, and working-class population.
“Coal India is being weakened and the mining sector handed over to private companies”
Brinda Karat said, “The Central Government is systematically weakening Coal India and handing over the country’s coal blocks to private corporations. This is not just the plunder of national wealth but also an assault on the rights of tribal and rural communities living in mining regions.”
She added that privatization in the coal sector has not only weakened workers’ rights but also led to the neglect of social and environmental responsibilities linked to mining projects.
Karat alleged that the government’s priorities have shifted away from the welfare of local people toward corporate profit. “Every decision of the government clearly reflects its bias toward private companies. A public sector enterprise like Coal India, which has met the country’s energy needs for decades, is now being gradually handed over to private players,” she said.
“Displacement, unemployment, and environmental crisis on the rise”
The CPI(M) leader said that handing over coal mines to private companies has led to widespread displacement and unemployment in states such as Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha. She pointed out that residents of areas where new mines are being opened are neither getting fair compensation nor permanent employment.
“Mining companies are acquiring thousands of hectares of forest land. This is causing immense environmental damage and uprooting tribal communities from their land, water, and forests. The government is promoting destruction in the name of development,” she said.
“Locals are being denied employment”
Brinda Karat stated that in Jharkhand and other mining states, local youth are being deprived of job opportunities. She alleged that companies are employing outside contractors instead of giving priority to local workers, as required by law.
She emphasized, “True development is one that ensures dignity, employment, and security for local communities. Today, the situation is just the opposite — companies are making profits while the people are being displaced.”
CPI(M) to Intensify People’s Movement Against Privatization
Karat announced that the CPI(M) will strengthen its nationwide campaign against the privatization of coal mines and public sector enterprises. The party, she said, will unite with workers’ organizations, tribal communities, and environmental groups to safeguard the country’s natural resources from private ownership.
“Coal is not merely a mineral — it is the livelihood base for millions of people. It cannot be treated as a market commodity. We will launch a countrywide movement against this pro-corporate policy of the government,” she declared.
Summary:
Brinda Karat’s statement has reignited debate over privatization and displacement in mining regions like Jharkhand. The CPI(M) maintains that the privatization of coal mines poses a serious threat to the nation’s energy security, employment, and environment.
Post a Comment