After 20 years, DTE allows girls to take Diploma in Mining Engg
   Date :14-Sep-2020

dr abhay wagh_1 &nbs
 
 
By Vikas Vaidya :
 
It was 1995 when Dr Chandrani Prasad Verma (nee Chandrani Prasad) did Diploma in Mining Engineering from Government Polytechnic, Nagpur. She became the only woman candidate to do so probably in the country. Then Government came with the stricture ‘Female candidates are not eligible for admission to Mining and Mine Surveying and Mining Engineering course’. Unfortunately Chandrani Prasad faced problems as she was not allowed to do Under Graduation (BE in Mining). She fought for her right in the court of law and won. But she lost some time while fighting her case in court.
 
She took admission in Shri Ramdeobaba and Kamla Nehru Engineering College (now Shri Ramdeobaba College of Engineering and Management), came with flying colours and later on joined CSIR-Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CSIR-CIMFR). Now Directorate of Technical Education (DTE) came with the good news for every girl willing to go for mining engineering as it has now allowed girl candidates to do Diploma in Mining Engineering. The decision was taken in view of the recommendations made in National Education Policy (NEP) that was declared recently. Dr Chandrani Prasad Verma expressed her happiness while talking to ‘The Hitavada’. She said, “It is really a good news. Now like me, women don’t need to fight if they wish to go for mining engineering.
 
There are lot of opportunities in this sector, provided women would be considered efficient for the jobs by the employer.” Now, a Principal Scientist with CSIR-CIMFR, Regional Centre at Nagpur, Chandrani Verma did her schooling from Chandrapur and after BE, she completed her M.Tech and Ph.D. Dr Abhay Kumar Soni, now a Chief Scientist and Scientist in-charge at CSIR-CIMFR headed the committee on Minining and Mine Surveying Course that recommended the Diploma Engineering in this subject to Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education (MSBTE), a part of DTE said, “There are lot of opportunities in this branch.
 
From companies that produce Manganese to cement industries, to WCL everywhere ample number of jobs are available. Considering all these factors our committee recommended this course. It was a part of NEP that has made a mention of this course.” Dr Abhay Wagh, Director of Technical Education with whose sign the letter was issued said, “It is a good step and now every field is open for women. Once there were less takers for mining course and in what context the entry of women was stopped I don’t know. But bygone is bygone, now the girl candidates are allowed to take those. DTE is coming up with several innovative ideas to attract the students to technical courses.
 
This is one of such steps.” “To further support the growing demand of female candidates interested to get admission in Mining Branch in technical institutes, a proposal was submitted to Courses Committee of Mining Courses headed by Dr Abhay Kumar Soni that unanimously approved the same. Finally the approval was granted to girl students to be admitted to Mining courses,” said Prof B J Naidu, Head Mining and Mine Surveying Department, Government Polytechnic, Nagpur. “We are extremely thankful to Dr Abhay Wagh for his decision to grant approval to girl students to join mining course. This decision will certainly provide new job opportunities in mining industry for women candidates. In every field women have equal opportunity to work. Now mining sector too will have women working in this field. Govt Polytechnic Nagpur takes pride in producing first mining engineer 20 years back who is now a Senior Scientist working with CIMFR Nagpur,” pointed out Prof Deepak Kulkarni, Principal (Officiating), Govt Polytechnic Nagpur. 
 
Women allowed to work in mining industry "Working of women in mining industry was prohibited by Mine Act 1952 Under Section 46. Later, this was amended by Directorate General Of Mines Safety (DGMS) in the year 2019 ( circular dated 29 /01/2019). The notification issued by Ministry of Labour and Employment that was published in Gazette says, ‘In exercise of the power confered under sub-section 1 of section 83 of the Mines Act, 1952 (35 of 1952), the Central Government exempts the women employed in any mine above ground and in any mine below ground from the provisions of section 46 of the Mines Act, 1952 subject to some conditions.’