The Centre of Indian Trade Union’s (CITU) Visakhapatnam unit on Saturday criticised the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant management’s decision of unilaterally increasing the medical insurance premiums for its retired employees and termed the move as an “unfair financial burden” on the elderly people.
In a joint statement, the unit’s president, U. Ramaswami, and general secretary, J. Ayodhya Ramu, highlighted the role of the retired employees in the growth and development of the steel plant, condemning the management’s decision.
The retired employees have been staging protests for the past 20 days. Despite bringing the issue to the attention of legislators and Member of Parliaments (MPs), there has been no change in the management’s stance, the statement read.
The leaders pointed out that it is distressing to see the management place such “heavy burden” on individuals who are already struggling to make ends meet with minimal pensions.
They highlighted that while the Central and State governments are currently offering various subsidies and relief measures for public healthcare, the steel plant management is acting in direct opposition to such welfare principles.
