More than 260,000 people in danger of losing jobs over lapsing mines

The validity of 329 mining leases will cease by March 31, causing job losses for 264,000

More than 260,000 people are in danger of losing their jobs, direct and indirect, because of the lapsing of merchant mines by March next year. 

This comes when the country is in the throes of its worst employment crisis in more than 40 years.

According to the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) data, the unemployment rate rose from 2.2 per cent in 2011-12 to 6.1 per cent in 2017-18 with the workforce shrinking by 47 million. 

The labour force participation rate during this period dipped from 55.9 per cent to 49.8 per cent.

The validity of 329 mining leases will cease by March 31,