A letter to the Editor of MEJ(Mining Engineers Journal (Published on Vol. 24 , Jan 23)-All must read

LETTER TO THE EDITOR, MEJ

By P.K. Govindaswamy LM/628/Tamilnadu Chapter

Dear Editor Dr. P.V. Rao

"How could anybody overlook this fundamental fact that sustenance of our civilization is largely, if not entirely, contingent on the usage of minerals & metals? The minerals and metals form the core of all the present and future technologies, in one form or the other, and extracting them by scientific methods for the benefit of society has to continue" (ref your Editorial -MEJ December 2022)".

How true! Yes, without essential minerals and metals there would be no homes, offices, factories, roads, rails, bridges, cars, trucks, planes, ships, dams, or waterways. In fact, no commerce or business can exist. Everything we depend on is either made from minerals for their production & distribution. These being indisputable facts, how come the mining community responsible for producing the essential mineral and metals has not yet been accorded the honor it rightly deserves?

To elaborate on this point, let us make an analogy-A forest officer-IFS cadre-takes care of Forest like conservation, protection, etc. confronting predictable and unpredictable situations and in return for that service he enjoys all the perks and prestige the IFS post entails, so do Mining Engineer takes care of mines confronting mostly unpredictable risky forces of Nature and what does he get in return?? The burden of qualifications and exams, needless to elaborate, is much heavier for a Mine Manager than that for an IFS Officer. Why not recognize our service at par with other All India Services, the Indian Mining Service (IMS)?

As you are aware in India as well as globally, fewer and fewer students are opting for a Mining career, rightly so, when there are jobs available with the least risk and relatively large perks,

job security especially in Govt. services/IT-related industrial sectors the irony of the situation is all these jobs /services cannot exist without the silent Mining community who sadly like Titan Atlas shouldering the World.

In order to meet the GNP target of 3% fixed for the Mining sector by NITI Aayog, it is imperative that the right talents also required to be inducted into the Mining sector, therefore, a comprehensive reformation with a view to making the Mining profession attractive has to be taken up to the Powers that be Hope MEAI Would ponder over these random thoughts and initiate appropriate steps so that Mining Community services are validated accordingly.

What is implied here by recognition is according due respect to the Mining professional services as important as other All India Services - debatable agree, but let us start somewhere- if that is not feasible for whatever reasons, officially recognize the value of services and extend some concession similar to that given to Armed Forces (check Googles-Concessions to Armed forces in India) just an example.

Maybe a Joint Committee of experts under the guidance of MEAI/FIMI to be formed to thoroughly study the issues raised above and recommend suitable steps to appropriate decision- making Authorities - a long shot yet worth doing for the overall healthy growth of the Mining Industry

Regards