“Give Bonus or We’ll Stop Transport” – Deepka Workers’ Anger Erupts, SECL Management Targeted

Under the banner of the Coal Workers’ Panchayat, the agitators accused SECL management and contractors of delaying their Performance-Linked Incentive (PLI) bonus and three months’ pending wages.

The workers alleged that with Diwali approaching, contractors are stalling on bonus payments, and SECL management is complicit in this delay. They pointed out that the General Manager has the authority to deduct bonus amounts from contractors’ bills and disburse them to workers, but no action has been taken. Local sources suggest that this “pressure politics” over bonus distribution is a recurring issue before Diwali every year.

The workers issued a stern warning: if the bonus is not paid within 48 hours, coal transportation in Deepka will be halted. While the protest remained peaceful, the absence of senior officials at the site fueled further resentment among the workers.

“We won’t light lamps this Diwali; we’ll ignite the flame of justice,” the workers declared. The agitation has sparked a broader conversation about labor rights and management accountability in Korba.