Abstract

This paper throws light on some burning issues of human resource in coal mining sector in contemporary West Bengal. Expansion of coal mining to a large scale is required and it presents enormous challenges not only in ensuring safe and efficient resource extraction techniques, pollution control and roadway / railway infrastructure development, but most importantly making the coal industry responsive to emerging social issues related to coalmining. Enormous challenges in this regard include transparent and accountable community consultation, involvement and participatory development, responsible resettlement and rehabilitation of coalmine-affected populations, and reassessment of numerous Government regulations, policies and legal mechanism relating to land acquisition and mine operations. Beside land acquisition factor entire coal mining sector is now facing some problems related to internal human resource management. This paper aims to focus particularly on some underlying issues relating to human resource on one side and society#x2019;s reaction against land acquisition on the other.