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Paper short abstract:

This study uncovers labour interactions in Eastern India where most work has been related to coal. In the realm of micropolitics surrounding coal extraction, state policies influence employment patterns while the local socio-economic relations remain significant in determining the future of work.

Paper long abstract:

The century-old coal economy of Jharia attracted seasonal migrants from nearby villages to permanent settlers in mining towns, followed by multiple land dispossession in the local villages – ultimately all were pulled or pushed to work in the coal mines. Over the years, unscientific mining led to abandonment of a few old mines. Today, while the state promises to transition away from coal, such mines reopened to counter the infamous coal fires - are rather operated unscientifically as open-cast mines by private companies grabbing land and blasting out coal which spreads fire followed by land subsidence. One such colliery settlement - a community of migrant settlers and indigenous farmers who are notified to be rehabilitated away not only from coal fires (or coal) but from the town of Jharia, are now living in-betweenness of knowing that displacement is on the way but not yet displaced. The author, through an extensive qualitative and quantitative survey in 58 households (including migrants and locals), investigates similarities or disparities across indigeneity, class, caste and gender governing dynamics of land and labour in such colliery spaces. The paper centres around understanding history and social margins of who manages/struggles to move away while who lingers around coal. The differential transition from or continuity of work within and across formal and informal coal sector is captured by the intermix of both social and state institutions. Hence, the study expresses its doubt of a just transition away from coal in regions where livelihoods continuously hang in the middle.