'SAIL rule for job on compassionate ground should be uniform'

Committee of Petitions observes while examining a representation by one Lacchi Devi

Displeased over different sets of rules by different units of SAIL for employment on compassionate grounds, a Parliamentary panel has asked the largest domestic steel maker to ensure that a "uniform set of standard rules" is adopted by all its plants.

"In the larger interest of the families of the deceased employees, it is highly imperative to ensure that all the subsidiaries of the company should have a uniform set of standard rules for their smooth functioning," Committee of Petitions said in its latest report.

The Committee gave its observations while examining a representation by one Lacchi Devi, who could not secure job for her son Sadan Kumar Singh with SAIL's Dhanbad unit, in spite of having no earning member in the family after her husband S K S Yadav's death due to cardiac respiratory failure in 2008 while on duty as Incharge Communication.

The Committee noted that the unit had not provided job to Singh in spite the family having no earning member, while in a similar matter it had provided job to deceased's son.

The Committee had taken up the representation for examination under the direction of Speaker, Lok Sabha and referred it to the Steel Ministry for comments.

The Steel Ministry in turn had replied, "The Ministry have been informed by SAIL that the case under reference is not covered under the company's provisions for providing compassionate employment."

Not satisfied with the reply, the Committee, however, took oral evidence from the Ministry and SAIL officials and ultimately the Ministry later in a written reply furnished, "The death of Late Yadav was on account of ailment having no casual connection with his job and accordingly the death was treated as natural death."

However, the committee found out that on the fateful day, Yadav was on duty and the authorities dealing with the case had drawn their own conclusions.

It said, "The committee deplores the dilatory attitude of the authorities of SAIL/ Dhanbad in the dealing with the case of the petitioner and causing unfair and undue hardship to the family for five long years."

It, however, also expressed satisfaction that after its intervention, the son of the diseased was offered employment after re-evaluation of the case and asked Ministry to complete the formalities in a time-bound manner and apprise it with conclusive action taken report in three months.

It also asked the Ministry to ensure similar set of rules by different plants saying, "by doing so, the element of subjectivity in dealing with the cases of providing employment on compassionate grounds by the respective competent authorities can be eliminated an no scope is left for any complaint or grouse in the matter."