CHANGES IN COAL MINING SOCIETY IN CONTEMPORARY WEST BENGAL, INDIA

Abstract

The Government of India has, in recent years, taken multiple steps to encourage private sectorparticipation, adopt a more holistic approach towards expanding its coal base, and improve efficiencyin the sector as a whole. However, the existing regulatory framework in India is not adequatelydeveloped or in tune with international standards that the extractive industries sector have beenputting together. It is thus crucial for the Indian coal industry to consider changes in its regulatoryenvironment to make it a par with the international standards to meet the critical requirement forenergy security. In fact coal mining society is passing though havoc changes due to Government’snewly introduced multifold policies. The industrial relation now has changed immensely than theprevious practices. Coal industry, which contributes 67 percent of total energy requirements of ourcountry. After two phases nationalization the industry witnessed certain developments, which haveimplications for the human recourses management and industrial relation. In the beginning of the 90sone important event was the introduction of the new economic policy and this has a great influenceover the coal mine sector. Impact of the policy Change is the introduction of a number of privateoperators in the coal production. Broadly, new economic policy initiated the gradual withdrawal ofstate from the control of basic industry and infrastructure. Coal mines are no exception in this regard.So the effect of new economic policy in the consequence of globalization also falls on the coalsectors. We now see what sort of impact of policy change has taken place upon the coal sector andcoal workers. This article tires to examine the changes taken place due to policy changes and changesin general outlook of the people of coal mines in which they live. Now the industrial relation as wellas the mechanism of work has been changed drastically. The traditional practice of work and mentaloutlook is gradually replacing with global method. It was noticed that people associated in thisindustry has started accepting the wider scope of work culture.