The socio-economic impact of local community managed coal mines : a case study of village Qasam Khel, Darra Adam Khel, FR Kohat, Pakistan

The main purpose of this study was to analyze the socio-economic impact of local community managed coalmines of the village Qasam Khel, Darra Adam Khel, FR Kohat, Pakistan. The study is based upon in-depth qualitative methods. The thesis starts in presenting the historical background of a conflict among the villagers over the rights claims of the coalmines following its discovery in 1995. The conflict eventually was resolved in 2009 through the application of Sharia Law, accepted by all the villagers. After the conflict resolution, a local system for managing the coalmines, which distribute income from the coalmines on a per capita basis in the village, was developed. The analysis of the process shows that the income generated from the coal extraction has had positive impact on health, education, marriages, economic empowerment of women, livelihood diversification, local businesses and job creations, and improvement in the existing businesses. However, there is a negative effect on social relations and arid agriculture. The incomes from coal extraction provided opportunities for some household to abandon agriculture and switch over to new and, of course, more profitable businesses and jobs. The life of the village has become busy whereas physical interaction between the villagers has diminished. The elders of the village call this a reduction in social relationship. I noticed trust deficit among the villagers in relation to the local management committee managing the mines. A majority of respondents claim that the members of the local management committee are corrupt, using mutual funds for their personal business, and apply nepotism when it comes to job allocations. This lack of trust may lead into conflicts among the villagers, which may result in the dissolution of local management committee