Singareni To Resume Medical Board Process Soon, Says Deputy CM Bhatti Vikramarka

The Telangana government has directed the Singareni management to restart the long-pending Medical Board process at the earliest, with Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka stressing the need for a transparent and fair mechanism that leaves no room for disputes or irregularities.

Bhatti said concerns regarding the Medical Board were raised during a recent meeting with ministers and public representatives from the coal belt region. Taking note of workers' grievances, the government has decided to move forward with the process while ensuring that only genuinely eligible employees benefit from it.

He instructed the management to establish a robust system that would facilitate compassionate appointments for eligible dependents of workers while preventing misuse, middlemen and procedural violations. The Medical Board, he said, should function in a manner that inspires confidence among employees and withstands scrutiny.

The Deputy Chief Minister also announced that appointment letters would be distributed to 335 candidates who have qualified for compassionate and dependent employment. The event is scheduled to be held in Mancherial on June 13, and officials have been directed to make all necessary arrangements.

Addressing another long-standing issue, Bhatti said the government is working towards resolving the decades-old problem related to name discrepancies among Singareni employees. Legal opinion is being sought, and decisions will be taken in accordance with applicable rules and regulations.

Highlighting the government's efforts in strengthening employment opportunities, he said that 2,657 posts have been filled in Singareni since the present government assumed office. These include 555 direct recruitments and 2,102 appointments made on compassionate grounds .

He noted that the upper age limit for compassionate appointments had been increased from 35 to 40 years , enabling more than 200 additional beneficiaries to secure employment.

Bhatti further said welfare measures for workers have been expanded significantly. Around 40,000 employees are covered under an accident insurance scheme worth Rs 1.25 crore , along with a free natural death insurance benefit of Rs 10 lakh . Contract workers are also being provided accident insurance coverage and profit-linked bonuses.

The Deputy Chief Minister added that Singareni is spending more than Rs 300 crore annually on healthcare services for employees and their families, alongside efforts to modernise its hospitals. He also expressed confidence that the company would secure new coal blocks and expand operations into other states , creating additional employment opportunities in the future.