[Interview] Suravee Nayak on why transformative justice for women, Dalits is key for a just transition

Women’s Empowerment and the Just Transition in India’s Coal Economy

India’s transition from coal to renewable energy sources is a crucial step towards achieving its commitment to net-zero emissions by 2070. However, this transition must prioritize the inclusion and empowerment of marginalized groups, particularly women, who have historically been excluded from the formal workforce in the coal sector. A just transition policy that aims to address the social and economic impacts of this shift must consider the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and make economic diversification for women a priority.

The Cost of a Just Transition

According to the International Forum for Environment, Sustainability & Technology (iFOREST), a just transition out of coal in India would cost a minimum of $900 billion over the next 30 years. This includes $300 billion in grants and subsidies to rehabilitate affected communities. The National Foundation of India (NFI) estimates that at least two crore formal and informal coal workers will be affected by this transition.

Defining a Just Transition

A just transition refers to the shift from a fossil fuel-dominated economy to one that relies more on renewable energy sources. The goal is to ensure that no communities are left behind in this process. However, the central question of who counts as an affected community is still open to discussion.

The Experiences of Marginalized Groups

Suravee Nayak, an energy and labour researcher, emphasizes the need to consider the experiences of marginalized groups like Dalits and women in a just transition policy. In a recent policy brief, Nayak and her colleague Ashwani Swain highlight the systematic exclusion of women from the coal labour market since the 1920s. This exclusion has resulted from gender discriminatory attitudes, neglect of women’s issues by trade unions, and the use of heavy machinery in opencast coal mines.

Intergenerational Dependency and Hierarchies

Nayak argues that a just transition policy should take into account intergenerational dependency on coal and the reproduction of hierarchies within the coal labour market. In Talcher, Odisha, she observed that more than 80-90% of households in coal-dependent communities are solely dependent on coal-related jobs. This intergenerational lens highlights the need to consider future generations and ensure they are not overlooked in the transition process.

Barriers Faced by Women

Women face several barriers in entering the coal labour market. These include entry barriers due to land ownership requirements, limited job opportunities in low-wage positions, gender wage gaps, and lack of representation in trade unions. These barriers contribute to the marginalization and invisibility of women in the formal workforce.

Empowering Women through Networks

Nayak suggests leveraging existing networks, such as self-help groups (SHGs), to increase women’s representation and voice in the coal labour workforce. In regions where such networks do not exist, she recommends creating new platforms or associations to bring women together and empower them.

Avoiding Tokenistic Representation

Policymakers must ensure that women’s representation is not tokenistic in a just transition policy. Gender should be a significant component, and specialized gender-specific perspectives should be considered to address existing inequalities and hierarchies. Economic diversification and alternative livelihood programs should be implemented to empower women and correct historical injustices of exclusion.

Read more: [Interview] Ajay Kumar Rastogi on leading India’s first just transition task force

Banner image: (Left) Suravee Nayak, associate fellow at Centre for Policy Research. Photo by Suravee Nayak/CPR. (Right) Daily wage labourers in the Deocha-Pachami-Dewanganj-Harinsinga coal block, waiting near a stone quarry for job opportunities. Photo by Subhrajit Sen/Mongabay.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDGs Addressed:

• SDG 5: Gender Equality
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
• SDG 13: Climate Action

Targets Identified:

1. Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.
2. Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.
3. Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
4. Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.

Indicators:

• Indicator 5.1.1: Whether or not legal frameworks are in place to promote, enforce and monitor equality and non-discrimination on the basis of sex.
• Indicator 8.5.1: Average hourly earnings of female and male employees, by occupation, age group, and persons with disabilities.
• Indicator 10.2.1: Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income, disaggregated by age, sex, disability status, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
• Indicator 13.2.1: Number of countries that have integrated mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.

Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The issues highlighted in the article are connected to the following SDGs:

• SDG 5: Gender Equality – The article discusses the marginalization of women in the coal labor market and the need for their inclusion in a just transition policy.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – The article emphasizes the importance of economic diversification and alternative livelihoods for women affected by the transition from coal to renewable energy.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – The article highlights the socio-economic inequalities faced by marginalized groups, such as Dalits, in the coal economies and calls for addressing these inequalities in a just transition policy.
• SDG 13: Climate Action – The article discusses the need for a just transition policy as part of India’s commitment to phasing down coal and achieving net-zero emissions.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s content, the following specific targets can be identified:

1. Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere – The article highlights the discrimination faced by women in the coal labor market and calls for their inclusion in a just transition policy.
2. Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value – The article emphasizes the need for economic diversification and alternative livelihoods for women affected by the transition from coal to renewable energy.
3. Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status – The article highlights the socio-economic inequalities faced by marginalized groups, such as Dalits, in the coal economies and calls for addressing these inequalities in a just transition policy.
4. Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning – The article discusses the need for a just transition policy as part of India’s commitment to phasing down coal and achieving net-zero emissions.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not explicitly mention specific indicators. However, based on the identified targets, the following indicators can be used to measure progress:

• Indicator 5.1.1: Whether or not legal frameworks are in place to promote, enforce and monitor equality and non-discrimination on the basis of sex – This indicator can measure progress in ending discrimination against women in the coal labor market.
• Indicator 8.5.1: Average hourly earnings of female and male employees, by occupation, age group, and persons with disabilities – This indicator can measure progress in achieving equal pay for work of equal value for women affected by the transition from coal to renewable energy.
• Indicator 10.2.1: Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income, disaggregated by age, sex, disability status, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status – This indicator can measure progress in reducing socio-economic inequalities faced by marginalized groups, such as Dalits, in the coal economies.
• Indicator 13.2.1: Number of countries that have integrated mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning measures into national policies, strategies, and planning – This indicator can measure progress in integrating climate change measures into national policies and planning as part of the just transition.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators