Demand to stop biometric system for contract labourers in Bhilai Steel Plant
Bhilai. The SAIL Steel Plant Contractors Association has accused the Bhilai Steel Plant management of misleading applicants instead of providing information under the Right to Information Act (RTI). The association alleges that despite constitutional obligations, the BSP management is avoiding responding to any information requested under the RTI Act, often providing incomplete or incorrect information.
The association has filed a complaint with the Central Information Commission and demanded that the BSP management be instructed to provide timely and appropriate responses, ensuring applicants are not inconvenienced. Association President K.A. Abdul Qadir stated that in recent days, point-by-point information was sought from the BSP management under the RTI Act on topics such as the biometric system, accident policy, the lottery system for tenders, the distribution of rate contracts, and health checks for contract laborers. However, on most of these issues, the BSP management has refused to respond. In many cases, instead of providing a proper response, the management has simply provided a copy of a circular. This appears to be misleading rather than providing accurate information to the applicant. He explained that there are contradictions between two departments within the BSP management on several points under the Right to Information Act. While responding to a question regarding a tender, the BSP’s Non-Works Contact Cell stated that information cannot be provided under the RTI provisions, the CBD GM is providing partial information on the same subject. This suggests that RTI has become a joke within the BSP.
Kadar explained that he had previously sought information from the BSP management regarding eligibility criteria under the Right to Information Act, but the management was not providing any information. Following a second appeal dated May 12, 2017, the Central Information Commissioner issued clear instructions to the BSP management on August 8, 2018, but this has not been complied with.
Kadar stated that in some cases, the Township and Non-Works Contact Cells are simply stating that their offices do not have any information on this matter. This is a direct violation of the Right to Information Act. On behalf of the association, CK Mohan (General Secretary), Tulsi Dharan Pillai (Treasurer), K. A. A. Ansar (Vice President), Sanjay Gupta (Vice President), V. V. Kishore (Vice President), Vijay Kumar, K. Thankarajan, and Mohan Rao have requested the Central Information Commission to direct BSP management to provide timely and accurate information under RTI.
Demand for Immediate Ban on Biometric and Lottery System
The association has also demanded a ban on the biometric system for contract laborers at the Bhilai Steel Plant. According to the association, BSP currently lacks a comprehensive system in this regard, and there are no detailed guidelines from SAIL. Therefore, the association has demanded a ban on this system until the end of this financial year, March 2026. Similarly, the association has alleged irregularities in the lottery system and demanded an immediate ban on it. The association says that due to this system, some identified people are being given more and more work, while the remaining people have no work.
