BCCL CMD Manoj Aggarwal and other guests inaugurating the Emerging Jharkhand Conclave.
Jagran correspondent, Dhanbad. The youth of Dhanbad are moving out of the state in search of better education and career opportunities, but their non-return is now taking the form of a serious social and economic crisis.
Only elderly parents are living at home while the coal industry, the economic base of the city itself, is facing challenges. Deep concerns were expressed about the future of Jharkhand on December 13, the first day of the two-day 'Emerging Jharkhand Business Conclave' organized at Rajvilas Resort in Govindpur for in-depth discussion on these burning problems. This important conclave was organized under the joint aegis of Jharkhand Industries and Trade Association (JETA) and Allure Society. The main objective of this program was to brainstorm on a new roadmap for the all-round development of Jharkhand.
The program started with the lighting of the lamp by the chief guest BCCL CMD Manoj Aggarwal, SIMFER Director AK Mishra, ISM Professor Shalini Gupta and other dignitaries. JETA General Secretary Rajeev Sharma underlined the tragedy of migration and said that it can be stopped only if adequate industries are set up in Dhanbad. He said that coal industries are under pressure, yet one lakh people are directly and indirectly associated with this sector.
He also drew attention to the plight of about 10 lakh people forced to live in fire-affected areas and stressed the urgent need for a concrete future plan to deal with these grave problems. Chief Guest Manoj Aggarwal, CMD, BCCL, stressed the need for collective efforts to stop youth migration. Giving an important warning on the future of the coal sector, he said that today non-coking coal work is decreasing and it is estimated that in the next 40 years the production of coking coal will become almost negligible.
He said that it will be replaced by alternative energy sources, the biggest example of which is solar energy. CMD described solar energy as a better and profitable business. He said that today thousands of people are successfully earning their living by joining this business.
He also expressed concern over the basic problems of Dhanbad i.e. extortion and coal theft and assured to make every possible effort to stop them. Special guest Dr. Sukumar Mishra also termed the exodus of young talent as unfortunate. He said that 40 percent of Dhanbad's economy comes from mineral resources. While hundreds of small and big industries are also playing an important role.
He said that despite adequate resources being available, if the youth are going out, then we have to think about where we are missing. Nandlal Aggarwal of JETA described this conclave as a platform to give a new identity to the growing possibilities, innovation and development of Jharkhand. He said that this is the first effort of ZETA and this platform can take Jharkhand to new heights of development and self-reliance only with the coordinated efforts of BCCL, SAIL and all business communities. A large number of industrialists, startup founders, social organizations and experts from various fields participated in the program. Who had in-depth discussions on topics like industry and business and mining sector.