NGT committee directs formulation of scheme to provide alternative livelihood

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 26, 2019

SHILLONG: The Independent Committee constituted by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the state government to formulate a scheme for providing alternative livelihood to the people affected by the ban on coal mining in the state.

“We have directed formulation of a scheme for alternative employments,” Justice (Retd) BP Katakey, who is heading the Committee, told reporters after a review meeting held here on Monday.

He said during the meeting, the deputy commissioners have been informed about the schemes on skill development so that people can have alternative employment.

“The Deputy commissioners will identify the persons that needs to be trained particularly the coal miners from Meghalaya and the indirectly affected persons,” Katakey said while informing that the department will also have a meeting with the trainers on April 3.

Stating that people directly and indirectly have been affected due to stoppage of coal mining activities, he said therefore they have to be properly skill so that they can have alternative livelihood.

“Unless we can provide alternative employment to those people they will continue to pursue the coal mining activity, that is for sure,” he added.

Katakey further informed that awareness camps have been conducted particularly in the schools from IX standard upwards adding but in the month of February only 3 camps were held and no camps was held in the month of March.

“The public awareness about the ill effect of coal mining activities is very much required because the big money is involved in coal mining, everybody knows. The labourers who are particularly coming from outside the state, they also get a good amount of money comparing to the wages they earn in the state of Assam. So people has to be told about the awareness about the ill affects of coal mining and that so far has not been done despite our direction,” he said.