Union Coal and Mining Minister G. Kishan Reddy on Friday announced sweeping welfare measures for coal sector employees, including enhanced insurance cover and the introduction of a uniform dress code.
From September 17 — coinciding with Vishwakarma Puja and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday — all regular employees of Coal India will receive an insurance cover of Rs 1 crore, the Minister said. Contract workers will also be entitled to coverage of up to Rs 40 lakh.
The ex gratia payment for regular employees has been increased from Rs 15 lakh to Rs 25 lakh, Reddy added.
“For the first time since Independence, a uniform dress code is being introduced across coal mines to provide employees with a respectable identity. These uniforms will be supplied by Coal India and will also apply to officials,” he announced.
Highlighting achievements in the sector, Reddy noted that India’s coal production crossed the one-billion-tonne mark for the first time, with Jharkhand making a significant contribution. He said coal imports had been cut substantially, saving Rs 60,000 crore in foreign exchange last year.
The Minister also underlined the government’s thrust on critical minerals. The National Critical Minerals Mission, with an outlay of about Rs 32,000 crore, has been launched to boost exploration and cut import dependence. India has already signed agreements with Argentina and Zambia for minerals such as lithium, he said.
With 74 per cent of India’s energy still coming from thermal power, Reddy stressed that energy security remains a top priority, even as the government expands solar and green energy capacity and secures minerals essential for steel, cement, and other key industries.
