Telangana spotlight: Women blast through the mining barriers
From handling explosives and repairing heavy mining equipment to supervising underground operations and training to drive 100-tonne dumpers, women at State-owned Singareni Collieries Company Limited are moving into jobs long considered a male preserve after amendments to the Mines Act helped open up these opportunities to them. However, challenges remain, including workplace safety, gender bias and physical demands of such roles, writes P. Laxma Reddy
Women employees of Singareni Collieries Company Limited’s explosive team at Khairagura Opencast Mine in Kumuram Bheem Asifabad district prepare the ground for a blast.
For three-and-a-half years, Tumram Priya’s working day began with meticulous grooming, donning a crisp uniform and preparing for a day in the skies. As a flight attendant, she checked safety arrangements and ensured passengers’ comfort. Today, the 27-year-old manages personnel and vehicles at an office near an opencast coal mine in a remote, forested corner of Telangana. She is also familiar with the handling of controlled explosives.
“My father, Jaganath, worked for the Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) and took voluntary retirement due to health issues. I subsequently got the job under the dependent quota,” says Priya, a commerce graduate.
Spotlight / In the Spotlight / Telangana / mining / Women's Representation / natural resources / natural resources (general)
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