Union Minister G Kishan Reddy announced on Monday that nearly 5 lakh individuals are directly employed in India's coal sector, while approximately 25 lakh people benefit from indirect employment. Speaking about the achievements of the Coal Ministry, he highlighted that the country's mining sector provides jobs to around 50 lakh people.
India's Coal Production Milestones
Reddy emphasized that India has emerged as the world's second-largest coal producer and second-largest coal consumer, driven by a series of reforms aimed at boosting coal output. He noted that over the past 12 years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, major reforms have been introduced in the coal and mining sectors.
Overcoming Past Challenges
The Minister recalled that 12 years ago, the coal sector was plagued by shortages, corruption, and alleged scams, with coal block allocations frequently dominating news headlines. He stated, "Today, nearly 5 lakh people are directly employed in the coal sector, while around 25 lakh people are indirectly employed. Across the mining sector, around 50 lakh people are working."
Coal India's Global Standing
Reddy further noted that Coal India is now the world's largest coal-producing company. Two coal mines in Chhattisgarh rank among the largest coal mining blocks globally. He added that approximately 72-73% of India's power generation comes from coal-based thermal power plants, ensuring no power shortage in the country.
"Earlier, coal shortages often led to power cuts, but now the country has sufficient power to meet its requirements," he concluded.
