Hyderabad: Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) has initiated the recruitment of women dumper operators for the first time in the company’s history following directions from the Telangana government to expand opportunities for women in mining operations.
Acting on instructions from Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka, the Singareni management launched the process to induct women into heavy dumper operations in open cast mines.
The company uses dumpers with capacities ranging from 60 to 100 tonnes to transport coal and overburden from quarry pits to the surface. For nearly five decades, only male employees operated these heavy vehicles because the work demanded physical endurance, driving skills and the ability to work in harsh weather and round-the-clock shifts.
However, SCCL said the increasing number of women employees in recent years encouraged the company to create opportunities in traditionally male-dominated roles. The management invited applications from women employees interested in working as dumper operators in open cast mines.
Women dumper operators complete specialised training
Around 35 women employees initially applied for the programme. Since the role required Heavy Motor Vehicle licences, SCCL arranged specialised training through the Telangana Institute of Driving Education and Skills (TIDES) in Sircilla.
The company provided free heavy vehicle driving training to interested women employees at its own expense. Out of the candidates trained, 13 women employees successfully completed the programme and informed the management about their readiness to work as dumper operators.
SCCL said these women would be considered during the upcoming recruitment process for dumper operators. Officials described the initiative as a major step towards women empowerment in the mining sector.
The company also stated that it had constituted a women’s rescue team for the first time in its history. Officials expressed confidence that more women employees would soon operate heavy dumpers across Singareni mines.
Some of the trained women operators said they initially felt uncertain about handling such demanding work. However, they gained confidence after operating the dumpers during training. They said women were now excelling in every field, including space exploration, and thanked the Telangana government and SCCL management for the opportunity.