Spotlighting the Lives of Communities in Coal Economy

livemint.com:

New Delhi: The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)organized a photo exhibition titled "Coal Dependence: Lives in an Extractive Economy" at its headquarters at the Indian Habitat Centre on July 25 and 26.Thetwo-day exhibition was part of a project “Just Transition: Understanding and the Implications of Moving Away from Coal", supported by the MacArthur Foundation.The exhibition strove to illuminate the lives of communities that are intricately connected to the coal economy, which is at the heart of the just energy transition debate.Through a series of compelling photographs, the exhibition examined the everyday realities of individuals engaged in selling, extracting, and transporting coal which happens in the absence of alternate lucrative means of income. These images highlighted the vulnerabilities faced by these communities as we aspire to transition towards cleaner energy sources.The photo exhibition was inaugurated by Dr Vibha Dhawan, Director-General, TERI, and attended by Mr Ajay Shankar and Mr Jiwesh Nandan, Distinguished Fellows at TERI.

The inauguration also involved the release of "Voices from the Ground: A Travelogue" documenting stories of people living in India's coal belt and the perspectives of various stakeholders.Sharing her thoughts on the exhibition, Dr Vibha Dhawansaid, “This exhibition makes us reflect how privileged we are. It has beautifully captured the challenges which the people face in this region, especially, women are inconceivable.