Mining experts in short supply, says CII study

While the mining sector in India is booming, the Confederation of Indian Industry has estimated that it would face a shortage of skilled personnel of up to 2,200 people over the next decade and a half.

Mining contributes around three per cent of GDP and employs around 900,000 people. The industry is expected to increase its contribution to 5 per cent in the coming years.

''Based on the estimated demand and the current supply from various educational institutes, a demand-supply gap of around 1,500 is expected during 2009-2017 (short term) and 2,200 during 2009-2025 (long term),'' the chamber said in a statement on its report on human resource mapping in Indian mining, released on Sunday.

The release did not, however, explain how it got these numbers. It merely stated that the CII study projects the human resource requirement after mapping available employment and identifying skill gaps.

India produces 86 minerals - 10 metallic, 46 non-metallic, 23 minor, four fuel and three atomic minerals. The approximate value of mineral production increased 61 per cent to Rs 86,780 crore over the five-year period to March 2009.

The report states that coal accounts for 75 per cent of the 900,000 people employed across different sub-sectors in mining, according to the release. Women account for only seven per cent of the overall employment.