Giridih Chapter

AID -Jharkhand

TRIBAL CHILDREN TRAPPED IN MICA MINES

Jharkhand’s mica working children are invisible to the public eye. Here different forms of child labour in mica extraction is presented. Their problems in collection of mica, their occupational health issue and the implication of the agent system on child labour are detailed here. The low income derived from this employment for the family forced them to engage their children in work. Their silent suffering continues.
In India most of the mica mines located in Jharkhand. The other mica producing region in India are Gudur in Andra Pradesh and Bilwara in Rajesthan. In Jharkhand Giridih and Koderama districts are popular for mica. It is estimated that atleast about 18000 children are involved in mica picking in this 2 districts in Jharkhand. The existence of child labour in mica industry is not known as the children are mostly working in interior tribal region in the forest. Engaging children in mica cutting and splitting is categorized as hazardous occupation under the Child labour [Prevention and Regulation] Act. However child labour in this region are part of their life and culture of the people. In Tisri block in Giridih district alone, 3018 working children in mica related work was detected.

HISTORY OF CHILD LABOUR IN MICA COLLECTION

Child labour in mica mining and scrap mica collection is the worst       form of child labour. Many children including girls have been engaged in mining operations. They even go below the ground of more than 20 feet to dig and search for mica. Working in loose soil is part of the operation. Many instances of deaths as a result of collapse of ground while mining and caving in of soil were found. In the last five years, more than 45 known deaths were recorded. Accidents and snake bites were other occupational health hazards of mica mining and scrap mica collection. Occupational diseases such as silicosis, asthma and bronchitis were common mong children and adults. Other poverty related diseases such as T.B. and malnutrition was very high.

MICA MINES-TISRI(GIRIDIH)

Tisri block in giridih district of jharkhand is a geographically degraded zone and very remote and inaccessible. The santhal tribes have , for many decades , predominantly had there habitats here . Previously it was a thick forest zone but over the years it has been devasted by droughts and man made destruction of felling trees and mining in the region .    Until 1980 organised

Mining of mica took place in the region . the waste mica is dumped all over the block and the deep mining has closed . now the prime livelihood of the people here is collecting the scrap mica . in this vocation entire family is involved and it sold for very meagre amounts to the agents . mica which is used in industries and has great export potential . but economic returns on mica to the poor who collect it not on the par with the returns the traders and agent who make a profit from it .

With the depleted forest the only major source of income for the people here is based around scrap mica . the majority of labor force in this sector consists of women and children . through the large number of children from the part of the labor force. In this sector hey are neither part of the official statistics on child labour  nor have they drawn the attention of media and public.

They are invisible work force. For a moinimum of 10 hours work they earn around Rs.6 – 8 per day.

Culturally the santhal tribes engage their children in vocation to enhance the family economy. This cultural fact coupled with the non – functioning  of schools in the region have ensured that children here do not get any basic minimum education.

In this  region special centers catering to the needs of the mica working children have been opened . they not only cater to the educational and recreational needs of children in this sector but also those of their parents. The parental groups are organised and they are encouraged to use thrift and credit systems. The parents are given awareness and input meetings on the available government programs in the region and how they can be utilized for their benefit.