Jharkhand's Mica Mines Declared Child Labour-Free by NCPCR
National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) declared the mica mines of Jharkhand ‘child labour-free’ at an event in Koderma, Jharkhand. NCPCR chairperson Priyank Kanoongo announced this as the first-ever successful endeavor to cleanse a supply chain of child labour in mica mining.
In India, working children up to 14 years of age are classified as child labour.
Mica, a shimmery, translucent mineral, is used in various industries including cosmetics, electronics, automobiles, and construction. It is abundant in the Koderma and Giridih districts of Jharkhand. Koderma was once known as the Mica capital of India, the Abkrah Nagari.
Mica mining was once a booming industry in the area, making India the largest exporter of Mica globally. However, the Forest Conservation Act of 1980 banned mining in forest areas without central government permission, leading to illegal mining operations.
Poor families often involved their children in collecting mica (locally known as dhibra) to earn extra income. At one point, around 20,000 children were employed in this work.
A child labour-free mica initiative was launched 20 years ago, involving the state government, district administration, village panchayats, civil society, and the central government. The NCPCR later joined the initiative.
The campaign identified child labourers who were out of school, removed them from mining activities, and enrolled them in schools. Efforts were made to ensure children remained in school and did not return to mining.
Andhra Pradesh leads mica production in India, followed by Rajasthan.
This achievement in Jharkhand marks a significant milestone in the fight against child labour in India’s mica mining industry, showcasing the effectiveness of collaborative efforts between government bodies, local communities, and civil society organizations.
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