Training of Personnel for the Mineral Dressing Industry in India

Abstract

It should be the responsibility of educationists to see that young men and women, who are to be employed in this industry, are to be given such training, which will help them in advancing the cause of conversation of our mineral resources to the highest possible degree. The shortage of trained men in the mineral dressing industry in India is very acute. As a result of Government’s Five Year Plan and their policy of conversation of the country’s mineral wealth, more plants for coal washing and concentration of manganese, chrome ores, etc., are bound to come up in the near future. Men are required to erect and operate these plants. Unless some action is taken now to ensure a steady supply of trained graduates, India may have to look to foreign countries to operate these mineral dressing plants. Institutions in India which impart education in mineral dressing, and the various industries/laboratories where training facilities are exits described in the paper. Through 70-80 students pass out of the mining and metallurgical institutions every year, not more than one takes up a career in ore-dressing. The author suggests two remedies to get a good of suitably trained supervisory men: (i) more time should be devoted for the study of the subject throughout the year, instead of rushing through the syllabus at the fag end of the year. Sessional work in ore-dressing should be made compulsory to enable the students to get familiar with the basic equipment.(ii)facilities should be provided every year for 4-5 graduates from the mining and metallurgical institutions to undergo practical training in the important ore-dressing plants in India for a total period of 1-2 years and sometimes in ore-dressing laboratories . Government and the industry should finance this scheme by awarding scholarships for maintenance of the trainees. The lower rank of personnel to actually run the plants will require to be trained in the respective plants, as the requirements of no two plants will be the same.