Only 32% coal miners prefer agriculture if they lose job to energy transition: Study

In a study conducted to take stock of the employment preferences amongst coal miners in the event of losing their jobs to green energy, it is found that 85 per cent of the respondents prefer reskilling while only 32 per cent wish to pursue agriculture.

It is worth noting that the preference for agriculture is not in tune with the overall percentage of the Indian population engaged in agriculture which is close to 66 per cent.

The study titled Livelihood opportunities for a Just Transition in Jharkhand was conducted by Delhi-based research-based consulting and capacity building initiative Climate Trends LLP in partnership with Ernst & Young LLP.

The study was conducted across five districts in Jharkhand – Ranchi, Dhanbad, Ramgarh, Chatra and Bokaro and involved a sample size of 6,000 coal workers.

Among those, 4,000 workers were from the organised sector (thermal power plants and mines), and 2,000 unorganised workers.

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“It was aimed at understanding the challenges and opportunities of transitioning away from coal and to clean energy sources in a coal-rich state such as Jharkhand. At least 20 focussed group discussions (FGDs) were conducted among the respondents, which were aimed to highlight the workers’ voice, as the state transitions away from coal,” the press statement mentioned.

Aarti Khosla, Director, Climate Trends was quoted as saying that with a commitment to reach ‘Net Zero’ carbon emissions by 2070, abatement of coal does become an important consideration.

“Equally important is to undertake scientific mine closure, ensure additional power needs are met by renewables, and take socio-economic parameters of communities in account as and when mines are shut,” she was quoted in the statement.

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“Focus is on India this year, and as the hosts of G20 there is an opening to seize the momentum and demonstrate that India’s energy future is dominated by clean energy. This report establishes the need for skill development to help local communities tide over the transition to clean energy systems. It offers recommendations to confidently embrace the policy level, sectoral level, and individual level changes the energy transition goals will bring,” she added.

India has set a target for achieving Net Zero by 2070 and is focused on a ‘coal phase down’ approach. However, a coal phase-down threatens the livelihoods of millions of workers and communities who depend on the coal sector for their sustenance and livelihoods across multiple states in the country. The impact of such a phase-down will be higher for states such as Jharkhand with a large number of mines and high levels of coal production.

Here are the key findings of the study:

• Despite 60% respondents not having employment contracts, the coal sector is the most attractive employer due to job security, and lack of other equally well-paying options.
• Six out of ten workers have not heard of a scenario where mines could be drawn down in the future.
• 94% of respondents reported not having participated in any training programs, indicating a major gap in any upskilling planning
• 85% were willing to get engaged in skilling or reskilling programs.
• Of the 6% who received any training for alternate livelihoods outside of the coal sector, only 24% were involved in training for the renewable energy sector.
• In terms of alternative livelihoods, 32% of workers favoured agriculture and allied sectors as their first choice for an alternate livelihood, 30% favoured manufacturing sector as their second choice, and 27% opted for mining of other minerals as their third choice, 29% indicated construction as their fourth choice followed by 26% as their fifth preference and education and 34% service as their sixth choice from the six choices offered to them during the survey.