Shillong, Feb 5: The Meghalaya Pradesh Mahila Congress (MPMC) has condemned the tragic and recurring deaths of coal miners in East Jaintia Hills and said this have once again exposed the criminal negligence and complete failure of governance.
“These deaths are not accidents; they are the direct result of government inaction, misplaced priorities, and deliberate failure to implement scientific mining practices, despite repeated assurances, court directives, and public warnings. How many more lives must be lost before the government wakes up?” the Mahila Congress questioned.
Stating that for years the government has spoken of “policy,” “process,” and “clearances,” Mahila Congress President Joplyn Scott Shylla said miners continue to enter unsafe, illegal, and unscientific coal mines that have effectively become death chambers for the poor and powerless, its president.
She said by not implementing scientific, regulated, and humane mining is nothing short of a betrayal of the people of Meghalaya.
The Mahila Congress demanded the government to lay bare on who is protecting illegal mining operators and the reason for not commencing scientific mining and why poor miners paying with their lives for the government’s “incompetence and silence.”
“This government cannot continue to escape responsibility by ordering inquiries after every tragedy. Post-incident condolences and probes cannot replace preventive action. The continued loss of lives reflects a system where profit and political convenience have been placed above human dignity and safety” Shylla added.
The Mahila Congress further demanded fixing of accountability at the highest levels, including action against officials who failed to prevent illegal and unsafe mining, compensation and long-term rehabilitation for the families of deceased miners and time-bound implementation of scientific mining with strict safety standards, monitoring, and transparency.
Calling for a complete crackdown on illegal mining operations, without political interference or selective action Shylla said, “We warn the state government that continued silence and inaction will no longer be tolerated. The lives of miners are not expendable. Meghalaya deserves governance that values human life over hollow promises.”
