Assam rat-hole mine tragedy, India-Taliban talks, and Mission Mausam
Jan 15, 2025
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Sukrita Baruah, a reporter for The Indian Express, details the tragic Assam rat-hole mine disaster, discussing the hazardous working conditions and chaotic rescue attempts. Shubhajit Roy, the Diplomatic Affairs Editor of the same publication, sheds light on India's renewed engagement with the Taliban, covering strategic discussions regarding terrorism and humanitarian aid. They also touch on Prime Minister Modi's Mission Mausam, an initiative to enhance India's weather forecasting capabilities amid climate change challenges.
The rat-hole mining tragedy in Assam highlights the dangerous working conditions and weak enforcement of laws despite the practice being illegal.
India's engagement with the Taliban reflects a strategic shift in diplomacy, addressing security concerns and humanitarian needs amidst regional complexities.
Deep dives
The Dangers of Rat Hole Mining
Rat hole mining in Assam and Meghalaya poses significant risks to workers despite being illegal. These mines consist of deep pits and narrow tunnels, often extending up to 310 feet underground, where miners engage in hazardous coal extraction. Workers often navigate through tight spaces with minimal safety gear, relying on helmets and head lamps for illumination. The combination of weak enforcement of laws and the lucrative nature of this labor continues to attract workers, who often prefer it over traditional agricultural work despite the dangers involved.
India's Engagement with the Taliban
India recently upgraded its diplomatic ties with the Taliban through a high-level meeting between Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Taliban's Acting Foreign Minister in Dubai. This interaction underscores a strategic shift as India recognizes the Taliban's permanence in Afghanistan and the need for official engagement amidst growing influence from countries like China. The discussions prioritized security concerns, specifically addressing terrorism emanating from Afghan soil and ensuring the safety of Indian interests and personnel. The Taliban also expressed requests for humanitarian aid and support for Afghan citizens seeking medical treatment and educational opportunities in India.
Mission Mausam: Enhancing Weather Forecasting
Mission Mausam aims to bolster India's meteorological capabilities to improve weather forecasting and modeling, with a budget of 2,000 crore rupees allocated for the next two years. This initiative seeks to enhance localized forecasts and predict extreme weather events, which have significant economic and security implications. The India Meteorological Department plans to advance its observation network and computing capabilities to gather and analyze data effectively. Additionally, there is an emphasis on developing India-specific climate models that consider local scenarios and impacts of climate change.
First, The Indian Express’ Sukrita Baruah tells us how several workers got trapped inside a rat-hole mine in Assam last week, and the political slugfest it has led to.
Next, The Indian Express’ Diplomatic Affairs Editor Shubhajit Roy talks about why India has now chosen to increase its engagement with the Taliban and what was discussed in their latest bilateral meeting (16:50).
Finally, we discuss Prime Minister Narendra Modi launching Mission Mausam, which aims to upgrade the capabilities of India’s weather department in forecasting, modeling, and dissemination (26:02).
Hosted, written, and produced by Shashank Bhargava Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
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