By Rusen Kumar
NEW DELHI: Coal India Limited (CIL), Maharatna, single largest coal producing company in the world, has 21,159 permanent women employees which represent 6.74% of its total permanent work force i.e. 3,13,931 revealed Annual Report, 2016-17. Most of the women executives are working in in administrative disciplines such as personnel, finance, CSR related work etc.
According to the Annual Report 2016-17 of the Ministry of the Coal, CIL is largest employer with manpower of 3,14,906 as on 1st December 2016. It has 413 mines (as on 1st April 2016) of which 207 are underground, 176 opencast and 30 mixed mines.
“As on 1.1.2017, the total strength of female employees in Coal India Limited is 211159, constitute 6.74 of total manpower.”, report said.
“The number of women executive is 1006 and the rest belogns to non-executive category. One of the reasons for low ratio of women as comapred to men in Coal India is the nature of the profession itself. Coal mining by its intrinsic nature is an ardous and hazardous profession. Moreover, there is a regulation preventing women employees from entering the underground mines.”, report added.
“The provisions of maternity-benefit Act and Equal Remuneration Act are being implemented, benefiting the women employees of the company. CIL has established nurses training institutes to impart training the trainee Nurses to find opportunities in or around the industry.”, report said.
“As per the Wage Agreement, female dependent of the employee who dies while in service is provided with employment or monetary compensation.
Based on the guidelines of National Commission for Women a women’s cell has been constituted to look into the complaints of women employees against discrimination and sexual harassment.
Coal India produces around 84% of India’s overall coal production. In India where approximately 55% of primary commercial energy is coal dependent, CIL alone meets to the tune of 40% of primary commercial energy requirement. Coal India commands nearly 74% of the Indian coal market.