Local economy, people's livelihood hit after coal mine closure in Assam: IIT study

closure of coal mines in Margherita in Assam's Tinsukia district has not only impacted local economy versely but also caused job losses, livelihood changes and migration of workers to faraway places with uncertain future, an IIT-Kanpur study revealed.

field-level case study conducted by premier institute's Just Transition Research Centre (JTRC) showed that "inconsistent support" from corporate social responsibility and District Mineral Foundation Trust could make situation worse for people dependent on coal after suspension of mining activities.

Of 172 respondents, 108 said re h been drastic changes in livelihoods of coal workers and non-worker residents of Margherita, following shutdowns of mines, said JTRC survey, 'Life After Coal Mine Closure' released here.

“52% said ir level of income h decreased, and 20% h lost ir jobs. 13% faced business recession. For example, a local sweets shop owner reported that when mines were open, he used to earn Rs 3-4 lakh a month but after closure, his business considerably declined,” report mentioned.

After shutdown of mines, workers are left with no choice but to take up various work at lower wages, it said.

“Mostly, re are no closure plans in place for contractual workers, leaving m worse off and vulnerable,” report said, citing experience of Salim Ali, a resident of Hamukjan village, who worked on contract for 17 years as a supervisor in an outsourcing company in Ledo colliery in Margherita and has no regular source of income since 2018 after mine closure.

Similar is condition of "more than 250 contractual workers".

study also showcased Sanjay Ujir, a dumper driver in Tirap Colliery who lost his job after mine's closure and started working as a daily wage earner.

condition of contractual workers and labourers worsened to point y starved for nights and female family members went into prostitution, study revealed citing a teary-eyed respondent.

According to respondents, majority of workers, who did not have any technical knowledge or capital, left place and went to Odisha, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Uttar Presh, Bihar, Telangana and Kerala, and ors opted for petty businesses.

“ objective of our study is to find ground reality and socio-economic impact of closure of mines under North Eastern Coalfields. In view of climate change and environmental degration, energy transition is taking place.

“Contestation between mining and ecology exists but people are centre of policies. And what we found that locals whose livelihoods are dependent on mining projects are instrumental for pitching for a continuation of fossil fuel," IIT Kanpur's JTRC coordinator and humanities and social sciences department professor Prip Swarnakar told PTI.

To achieve sustainable livelihood after a coal mine closure, polices must think beyond jobs, he said, ding that re should be a well-thought transition framework in se cases, orwise people will suffer.

In Margherita, mining operations in Tikak, Tirap opencast projects (OCPs) were stopped two-three years ago, while Tipong underground mine and Ledo OCP were discontinued in 2018, study said, ding that Baragolai colliery closed in 2010.

Among various reasons, se mines were closed mainly due to environmental grounds, Swarnakar said.

However, mining operation resumed in Tikak colliery early this year.

report also recommends integration of CSR measures into core business operations of industry.

" analysis from study on Margherita coal mines revealed that CSR activities in area h limited outcomes despite substantial expenditure of money and efforts by industry. Most of m were short-term mitigation of business impact. Annual CSR activities numbered 10-12 in 2011-2014 but were reduced to one each in 2015 and 2016," JTRC post-doctoral fellow Riti Chatterjee told PTI.

company should conduct a needs assessment before undertaking any such initiative and must carry out an impact assessment, she ded.

When contacted, a North Eastern Coalfields official declined to make any comment on findings of report, and also did not respond to a set of queries till publication of article.

Citing findings of study that a central hospital in Margherita was extremely beneficial to people re even after mine closure, researcher said strong institutional support in health and education sectors enhances resilience of a community against versities of suspension of mining.