Hundreds of tribal miners working at the green marble mines in Rishabdeo have decided not to exercise their voting rights in the upcoming general elections. This unanimous decision came after the green marble association allegedly failed to honor its commitment as assured in a recent meeting with the miners who have been striking work for past 3 months. The have a 15-point demand on gratuity, medical facilities, leave benefits etc. On Monday, the miners organized a rally in front tehsildar’s office where the representatives handed over a memorandum to the officials expressing their resentment over the issue and announcing not to exercise their votes. The mining activities at more than 100 marble units in the green marble belt at Kesariyaji in Rishabdeo area have been affected. Due to the strike the mine owners are incurring heavy losses. The government too is at the receiving end as it receives whopping revenue annually from here. The tribal miners union Janjati Mazdoor Sangh had served a memorandum to the administration and the marble association in middle of January this year urging them to resolve issues. The miners had alleged that they are made to work at a stretch without breaks, paid poorly and deprived of benefits prescribed as per norms. “Our people are forced to work in miserable conditions in the dangerous mines where fatal accidents have become a routine,” said Kalulal Meena, a member of the Sangh. “The mine owners mint money out of the excavation work which continues uninterrupted day and night but they are least bothered about clearing the debris which results in frequent collapse of massive blocks claiming lives of labourers,” he complained. Reportedly, due to excessive excavation many of the mines have gone down till 300 feet, while huge blocks which have not been removed from the sides are posing high risk to labourers working down in the mines. In the last one year in the region, five people had been killed in various mining mishaps. Recently a meeting was held between the mine owners and the miners’ group in the presence of officials from labour department where the mines owners association had theoretically agreed to sign the agreement with the miners. However, the association withdrew from their commitment which has further infuriated the miners, said D S Paliwal, a social activist.