Synopsis
On March 21, Union Minister of State for Coal and Mines Satish Chandra Dubey urged industry leaders to develop skills in the mining sector for India to become self-reliant in critical minerals production. He emphasized education, training, and collaboration as vital for bridging the skills gap in mining.Key Takeaways
- Self-reliance in critical minerals is essential.
- Skill development is crucial for the workforce.
- Establishing mining-focused educational institutions is necessary.
- Transitioning to a high-tech mining sector is vital.
- Collaboration is key to overcoming the skills gap.
New Delhi, March 21 (NationPress) The Union Minister of State for Coal and Mines, Satish Chandra Dubey, on Friday prompted industry leaders to cultivate expertise within the mining sector to achieve self-reliance in the production of critical minerals. “India has reached self-sufficiency in coal production, yet it remains reliant on imports for critical minerals. The government is tirelessly working to close this gap, thus I urge businesses to train their workforce to develop expertise in this field,” Dubey stated at the PHDCCI conclave on 'Creating Future Ready Manpower for the Mining Sector.'
He underscored the significance of skill development and encouraged industrialists to establish educational institutions dedicated to mining studies, enabling the youth to acquire essential skills.
The minister expressed gratitude towards PHDCCI for its role as a leader in supporting the industry and advocating for its interests. He also highlighted the necessity of skill acquisition, asserting that each individual should possess skills to prevent unemployment.
Furthermore, he noted that the mining sector is experiencing a significant evolution, urging it to transition from a labor-intensive model to a high-tech industry driven by automation, digitalization, and sustainable practices.
The minister reassured PHDCCI of governmental support for future initiatives and reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of India achieving self-reliance across all sectors, contributing meaningfully towards the 2047 Viksit Bharat goal.
PHDCCI president Hemant Jain stated, “The future of the mining industry will not only rely on the resources we extract but also on the human capital we nurture.”
“The skills gap in our mining sector is significant and expanding. A number of our seasoned professionals are nearing retirement, taking with them decades of invaluable expertise. At the same time, attracting young talent to this field is becoming increasingly difficult due to outdated perceptions and rivalry from industries seen as more lucrative and innovative,” he remarked.
Jain emphasized the need to tackle this challenge directly, focusing on three essential pillars: education reform, industry-academic collaborations, and inclusive workforce development, as no single entity can bridge the skills gap alone.
