Workers' unions demand ₹1 crore compensation and judicial inquiry into Visakhapatnam steel plant accident

An all-party Joint Action Committee (JAC) comprising workers' unions and people's organisations has demanded a compensation of ₹1 crore and permanent employment for the families of the 10 workers who lost their lives in the June 8 accident at the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. The demand was put forth during a round-table conference held at the Public Library in the city on Wednesday.

The meeting was chaired by JAC chairman M. Jaggu Naidu and vice-chairman M. Manmadhara Rao. It witnessed the participation of a wide spectrum of trade union representatives and civil society members, who collectively voiced their concerns over the tragic incident and the alleged lapses that led to it.

Addressing the gathering, several speakers, including former UPSC member and former Vice-Chancellor of Dravidian University K.S. Chalam, Visakhapatnam Bar Association president Sanyasi Rao, CITU State president Ch. Narasinga Rao, and Visakha Steel Protection Committee leaders Mantri Rajasekhar and Adinarayana, asserted that shortcomings in safety protocols and maintenance practices were contributing factors to the accident. They emphasised the need for an impartial investigation to fix responsibility and prevent future occurrences.

“Our first demand is a judicial inquiry. Only an independent and impartial investigation can bring out the truth,” Mr. Narasinga Rao stated, underlining the call for accountability. The speakers urged the management and relevant authorities to ensure strict adherence to safety norms and to support the affected families.

A resolution adopted at the conference called for a judicial inquiry into the accident, payment of ₹1 crore compensation and provision of permanent employment to one member of each deceased worker's family. Additionally, the resolution sought ₹50 lakh compensation for those injured in the incident and complete reimbursement of medical expenses incurred by the injured workers.

The gathering saw representation from various trade unions, including CITU, AITUC, IFTU, and INTUC, alongside members of lawyers', women's, youth, and farmers' organisations. Their united stance reflected a broad-based demand for justice and systemic reforms in industrial safety at the public sector Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, which operates under Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL).

The Joint Action Committee reiterated that the demands are non-negotiable and must be met promptly to ensure dignity for the victims' families and to deter recurrence of such mishaps. The committee also expressed solidarity with the injured workers, promising continued support until all relief measures are implemented.