The Paris Climate Agreement initiated global efforts to reduce the global temperature by 1.5℃ degrees. From the United Nations to various governments, measures were taken to achieve this goal, sparking a significant debate. The debate centered on how poor or developing countries could transition from coal within a short timeframe compared to rich countries, which have historically been major carbon emitters.
The National Foundation for India (NFI) recently released a report highlighting the dangers faced by deprived communities in India during the coal transition. This report includes facts and figures about the effects on deprived communities, specifically Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC).
The report surveyed 1,209 households and conducted 20 focus group discussions in six districts of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Orissa. The data revealed surprising facts about the deprived communities living in coal-dependent areas. According to the report, 41.5% of the households belonged to OBCs, 23% to scheduled tribes, 17% to scheduled castes, and 15.5% to the general category.
These communities face significant deprivation in areas such as education and health, with their situation worsening during the coal transition. The coal transition refers to moving from traditional coal based energy sources to green or clean energy sources like solar, wind, or hydro power.
Economic Dependency and Health Concerns:
Long-term exposure to pollutants from coal mining significantly affects the local population’s health. At least 75% of survey participants were found to have respiratory and skin diseases, including chronic bronchitis, asthma, and skin problems. One major reason for these health problems is the local population’s dependence on coal mining-related activities. During the coal transition, many workers are likely to become unemployed, limiting their economic resources.
Areas like Dhanbad in Jharkhand and Koria in Chhattisgarh are heavily dependent on coal production, and workers’ incomes here are lower compared to diversified industrial areas like Angul in Odisha. The survey also found that the impact of welfare schemes is comparatively less in these areas, worsening the condition of these vulnerable communities. Lack of access to equal health facilities symbolises injustice towards these deprived communities, reminiscent of Martin Luther King Jr statement, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
Caste-Based Inequalities:
The study revealed several caste-based inequalities related to access to resources and opportunities. Disadvantaged communities such as Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes are more affected because they lack access to education and means of livelihood. Many less educated workers need more skills to achieve the goal of a Just Transition.
According to a 2021 Pew Research report (not part of this survey), about 21% of workers in India are from Scheduled Castes, about 9% from Scheduled Tribes, and about 35% from Other Backward Classes. This data indicates that India’s backward and disadvantaged communities often work more in labor-intensive roles than in leadership roles, and the coal mining sector is no exception.
Recommendations for a Just Transition:
The study highlighted many challenges faced by deprived sections, leading to recommendations for protecting their interests. Key recommendations include providing alternative means of livelihood away from coal, taking steps for environmental recovery to reduce health effects, and ensuring inclusive policies for Just Transition that consider deprived sections.
A successful example of Just Transition is seen in Singrauli, India. Singrauli district spans between Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Various renewable energy projects, including solar and wind energy, were set up in Singrauli, benefiting both the economy and employment opportunities.
Local residents gained direct benefits, and skill development programs were conducted by NGOs and the government to help workers transition from the coal-based economy to the renewable energy sector or other developing industries. Additionally, ecological activities were gradually conducted to protect the land damaged during coal mining.