Akanksha Kumari: Meet the first Indian woman to work in underground mines
Want to know the story of Akanksha Kumari? Explained here
Sometimes we come across examples that encourage us to move forward. It has been seen many times that women move ahead by breaking the stereotypes of society and at the same time have the courage to do something unique. Recently there are talks about one such woman. This girl is 25-year-old Akanksha Kumari who has achieved the title of being India’s first woman underground mine engineer.
On 30 August, Akanksha officially started working in the Churi underground mines. There are many fields which till now were considered only for men, but women have also started taking part in them more and more. This decision of Akanksha is being appreciated on social media.
How Akanksha is being appreciated by the people?
Union Coal Minister Prahlad Joshi has also praised Akanksha on social media. Prahlad Joshi wrote- Progressive Governance: In order to promote gender equality and create more opportunities, women have also got an opportunity to work in underground coal mines in the government of Prime Minister Narendra ji. Akanksha Kumari has become the first mining engineer who is working in an underground mine. Coal India Limited looks after all the work of extracting coal from India’s coal mines. Under this, there are about 345 mines. According to its official website, 151 of these mines are underground, 172 are open cast and 22 are mixed mines. Underground means making a way to reach the coal, open cast means removing the layers above it to bring out the buried coal and mixed mines, where coal is taken out by both methods.
How Akanksha is a talented girl since her childhood days?
Akanksha has done her schooling from Navodaya Vidyalaya and being from Jharkhand, she has always seen mining and allied activities very closely. It is said that if you watch something continuously then you become interested and hence Akanksha also showed her interest in it and studied mining engineering from BIT from Dhanbad. Prior to joining Coal Mines, Akanksha was working in Hindustan Zinc Limited’s Ballaria Mines in Rajasthan. Her whole family supports her and helps to fulfill her dreams.
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Why It is very difficult to work in coal mines?
If you are still wondering why Akanksha should be praised, then we shall give you some information about it.
1. In any underground mine, you may have to spend 10-12 hours at a time.
2. Underground temperatures can be above 40 degrees.
3. There is a danger to life in case of any emergency below.
4. Underground mines sometimes do not even have bathrooms.
5. Sometimes there are explosions in the mines and the workers working there have to be prepared for every situation.
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According to the Ministry of Mines, they have started working in the Churi underground mine in the North Karanpura area of Central Coalfields Limited. However, there are women employees in different roles right now. They are taking on responsibilities ranging from officers and doctors to security guards and even operating heavy machines like dumpers and shovels. But this will be the first time that a woman in one of the world’s largest coal mining companies CCL will get a chance to participate in mining activities.
It is difficult for any human being to work in such a situation and that is why many people do not choose such situations. Akanksha has chosen this job and told that women should also show their talent in every field like men. She is just 25 years old. She is an inspiration to millions of women out there. The importance of Akanksha’s achievement can be gauged from the fact that she is the second mining engineer in the Maharatna group Coal India Limited and the first woman to work in an underground coal mine.
