WOMEN COULD SOON GET TO WORK IN MINES UNDERGROUND

Women could soon be allowed to work in underground mines across the country as the directorate general of mines safety (DGMS) has sent a proposal to the central government for lifting ban on women’s entry in underground mines.

DGMS, PK Sarkar, on Wednesday admitted they have sent proposal to central government in this regard recently. The proposal will allow women across different grades - miners, officers and engineers - to be deployed in mines during the day time.

Currently women are allowed to work only in open cast mines during the day time. The DGMS proposal has also recommended deployment of women in open cast mines during the night. “We are hoping that the proposal would be cleared soon and women would get entry in the underground mines,” said Sarkar.

There are around 23,000 female miners in Coal India Limited (CIL) among its 3.22 lakh workers. After getting Centre’s nod, women would be allowed to work in underground mines and get night duty in open cast mines. Besides coal, women would also get benefitted in mines of other minerals.

Sarkar said the proposal was sent to central government in wake of representation of MPs, trade unions and academic institutions of the country.

“In developed countries, especially in Australia women miners and officers are already working in underground mines and perform duty at night on surface. Women miners and officers in country are skilled at par with their counter part in foreign countries. So why they can’t be allowed to work in underground mines in India,” Sarkar said.

The DGMS said several women in the country are enrolled in mining engineering, conducting research in different departments of mining. “Moreover, when women are contributing equally as their male counterpart in every department, it would be unfair to stop them from utilizing their degrees in mining field,” he added.

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