The President of the Meghalaya Indigenous Women's Council, Bythygrace Dkhar, spoke to DD News today about the recent coal mine blast in the Mynsngat-Thangskoo area, which claimed 33 lives.
She extended her condolences to the affected families, noting that the loss of so many lives has deeply impacted everyone. Dkhar alleged that the tragedy stemmed from the government's failure to understand the people's needs. Coal mining has been banned since 2014, yet here we are in 2026—how much longer must the people of East Jaintia Hills District suffer? She explained that 70-80% of residents earn their daily livelihood from coal mining, filling their stomachs through daytime labor.
The NGT ban has devastated the region. If the government had fulfilled its duties, this incident might have been prevented. She urged the Chief Minister, if he truly cares about Meghalaya's people, to find ways to lift the coal mining ban.
Dkhar emphasized that coal mining has sustained East Jaintia Hills for over 100 years, generation after generation. It's been years since the NGT ban, yet it's astonishing how residents have survived. As a woman responsible for her household, she finds it incredibly hard to manage without this income—and men, unable to work, can't support their families.
The local economy is crumbling, youth education is suffering with widespread dropouts due to lack of parental support, and jobs are scarce amid resource shortages. "Only God has protected us this far," she said. "The government bears no responsibility."
Coal mining is the people's livelihood in Meghalaya. Through her organization, Dkhar appealed to the government to do its homework: when the NGT imposed the ban, officials should have found alternatives to let people work freely in the coal business. The state's revenue relies heavily on coal—without it, both people and government coffers suffer.
She criticized the government for favoring the rich: poor miners die while the wealthy thrive. The SOP for scientific coal mining licenses requires 100 hectares of land, which only the rich can afford.
If small-scale mining worked for the past 100 years, why impose such restrictions now? Dkhar demanded a blueprint for coal mining, freedom from excessive regulations, and a return to pre-ban practices. She called for dissolving the opaque "High Level Committee"—its members are unknown, and they exploit their power.
Her message to the central and state governments: Review the 100-hectare SOP, as not every miner can access that much land. Don't view this one-sidedly—every citizen has constitutional rights. Let us work, let us live, and stop tightening the noose.