No Work Since Months, Magnesite Miners To Boycott Polls in TN

In 2016, the Magnesite mines were closed on the ground that they had violated the rules and regulations stipulated by the Union Ministry of Environment. The fate of around 2,000 workers hangs in the balance owing to the stoic silence on the part of the companies concerned and also the governments.

Salem (Tamil Nadu): Labourers at the Magnesite mines in rural parts of Salem, who have been on an agitation for the past two months demanding re-opening of the mines, have decided to boycott the Assembly elections slated for April 6.

The miners, numbering about 2,000 for whom the Magnesite mines have been a lifeline for the past 50 years, have been sitting on dharna at the entrances of the mines for the past two months, pressing their demand. The mines were closed citing environmental reasons about five years ago.

These mines are spread across 3,000 acres in various rural parts of Salem district. The ‘white stones’ were mined, powdered and converted into slabs before being exported. They fulfilled the economic needs of the people living in 20 villages, including Dalmiaboard, Maamangam, Vellalapatti, Karuppu, Sengardu etc. since 1971.

In 2016, the mines were closed on the ground that they had violated the rules and regulations stipulated by the Union Ministry of Environment. Five years on, the companies operating the mines are yet to take measures required to re-open them. Companies, particularly the Sail Refractory Company, Dalmia Magnesite and Tamil Nadu Magnesite have been accused of having adopted the anti-labour policy and being indifferent to the issue of re-opening of the mines.

The mining workers have now decided to boycott the elections in order to bring this issue to the attention of the state and central governments and persuade them to find a permanent solution to the issue.