No longer confined to traditional roles, the 21st Century woman is now shattering glass ceilings and rewriting the rules of success. She is making significant strides in every field, from science and technology to politics and business. Today’s woman is not just emerging as a powerful force of change, shaping the future with her intelligence, determination, and unwavering spirit, but also venturing into many other male dominated fields. Underground coal mining is one such field which remained closed for the ‘weaker sex’ till the recent past.

 

Though women had their representation in the country’s coal mining companies for the past many decades, their role was restricted to office work and ‘not so challenging’ tasks. But in 2019, the Government of India passed rules that allow women to work in coal mines, including underground mines, in order to promote gender equality and create more job opportunities. This landmark initiative paved the way for recruitment of women in all the underground mines. In line with the Government’s directions, Vidarbha’s largest employer - Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) also opened up its doors for women to work in underground mines. So far the company could rope in three women in this challenging area. Ankam Akhila Sahithi, Assistant Manager (Mining), working in the WCL underground mines in Balharshah, became the first woman in Vidarbha to work in highly risky yet challenging underground mines. She joined the company in November 2022.

 

When contacted, Sahithi told The Hitavada that she feels proud to be part of the underground mining team. “I always wanted to work in coal mines as it offers me great excitement,” she said. Besides underground mining, women are also operating heavy earth-moving machines in WCL. They also work in repair, maintenance and other similar departments. P Narendra Kumar, General Manager, WCL, said the company is constantly encouraging women participation in various departments.

 

“As far as the underground mining is concerned, WCL is recruiting women as per the recent directions of the Government,” he said. With about 32,535 staff members working under its umbrella, Western Coalfields Limited has engaged only 3,015 females in different departments which is less than 10 per cent of the total strength. However, women are still underrepresented in a number of professions that are traditionally dominated by men, the coal mining sector is no exception. In February 2019, the Ministry of Labour and Employment in India notified rules that amended the Mines Act of 1952 to allow women to work in mines. Earlier, the Mines Act of 1952 prohibited women from working in any part of a mine that was below ground, or in any mine above ground except between 6 am and 7 pm.