Indian coal hub juggles need for jobs with hope for greener future

(Eco Business, 12 Sep 2022) A coal-rich district in eastern India is working on a green energy transition plan even as new mines open and coal production rises.

Dwarka Prasad, 24, believes he is on the cusp of landing his dream role driving a dumper truck at a coal mine in eastern India - although he wonders if it will be a job for life.

Prasad hopes that his participation in a first-of-its-kind training programme this year will help him to get a well-paying job at one of the new mines in Odisha state’s Angul district that are set to open to meet India’s ever-growing energy needs.

He was among 150 people aged 18-35 in Angul - a coal hub for seven decades - who qualified for the scheme to provide local people with skills to work in the mining industry - even as the district starts considering a greener and cleaner future.

Of these, 70 trainees have been placed in mining-related jobs - from dumper truck operators to electricians and welders.

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Eco Business, 12 Sep 2022: Indian coal hub juggles need for jobs with hope for greener future