Bhubaneswar: The 43rd Annual Mines Safety Fortnight Celebration – 2025 (AMSFC-2025) will be inaugurated at 9:30 am at Swosti Premium Hotel, Bhubaneswar, under the aegis of the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS), Bhubaneswar Regions 1 & 2.

The programme is being organised by the Eastern Zone Mining Association (EZMA) with the objective of promoting a stronger culture of safety in the mining sector.

Ujjwal Tah, Director General, Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS), Dhanbad, will attend the event as the Chief Guest, while Dr. Shyam Sundar Prasad, Deputy Director General of Mines Safety, DGMS, South Eastern Zone, Ranchi, will grace the occasion as the Guest of Honour.

Other prominent dignitaries expected to attend include Shri Awanish Kumar Mishra, Chairman of the 43rd AMSFC-2025 and Director of Mines Safety, Bhubaneswar Region-I; Nasina Balasubrahmanyam, Advisor of the 43rd AMSFC-2025 and Director of Mines Safety, Bhubaneswar Region-II

The event will be presided over by Rajib Lochan Mohanty, President, Eastern Zone Mining Association and Convenor of the 43rd AMSFC-2025, Prabodh Mohanty, Co-Convenor of the 43rd AMSFC-2025 and General Secretary of EZMA; and R. S. Raghuwanshi, General Secretary of the 43rd AMSFC-2025 and AVP (Corporate Affairs), Jindal Steel and other committee members.

The Annual Mines Safety Fortnight is a significant initiative aimed at enhancing awareness about safety standards and encouraging the adoption of best safety practices across mining operations. The programme will bring together officials from DGMS, representatives of mining companies, safety professionals, and other industry stakeholders.

During the fortnight, a series of activities including safety awareness programmes, trade tests, inspections, silicosis tests, quiz competitions, and defensive driving training were conducted to promote a proactive approach towards accident prevention and worker safety in mines. A total of 122 mines participated in the various activities organised during the celebration.

Organisers expressed hope that the initiative will further strengthen cooperation between regulatory authorities and the mining industry in ensuring safer and more responsible mining operations across the region.