The Hindu : National : Focus on health and safety of mine workers, says Pratibha Patil

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Wednesday, May 07, 2008
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Focus on health and safety of mine workers, says Pratibha Patil

Special Correspondent

National Safety Awards for 2004, 2005 and 2006 presented

NEW DELHI: President Pratibha Patil has emphasised the need to improve the living conditions of mine workers through welfare schemes that provide financial security, health-related care, housing and shelter for those disabled or injured in mining operations. The living conditions of coal miners can be improved by providing and improving basic facilities of housing, water supply, medical care and education, she said after presenting the National Safety Awards here on Tuesday.

Ms. Patil said women engaged in the mining sector should be cared for and gender-sensitive approaches should be adopted towards this end. “I strongly believe that the mining fraternity in our country — industry, government, business, academics or research — is ready to take up the challenge and manage such changes responsibly to make the mining sector a secure work place as well as a powerful driver of growth.”

Ms. Patil said the three most serious challenges confronting the mining industry were the search for suitable and sustainable technology for exploration, exploitation and value addition to mineral resources besides protecting the ecosystem and improvement of health and safety aspects of the worker. These challenges need to be addressed in a constructive and innovative manner for which a substantive investment was needed. The private sector should be encouraged to participate in it progressively, for which appropriate policy initiatives may be taken, she said. To exploit the country’s potential in minerals, it was important that appropriate mining technologies were utilised to ensure scientific extraction and economic utilisation.

In this context, it was necessary to promote research and development in minerals and to simultaneously establish appropriate educational and training facilities for human resources development to meet the manpower requirement of the mineral industry, she said. The awards were given away for 2004, 2005 and 2006. The winners included Bhetaland Amalgamated Colliery Tata Iron and Steel, Maheshpur Colliery Bharat Coking Coal Ltd, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation in the category of oil mines and other companies such as Mysore Cements Ltd. and J K Minerals.

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