Health Problems of Mine Labours

Silicosis and Asbestosis are two major diseases, spread by various minerals dust (ex., sand-stone, mica, asbestos) in the work of mines. So, most of the workers, who are doing mine work, suffering from silicosis and asbestosis. Some people died by the reason of these diseases, because, there is no proper treatment.

Not only mine worker affected by this disease, but also those people should be affected, who has staying the near of mine (within 15 km area). Because, the dust of minerals is mixed in the air. In the process of respiration dust of silica and asbestos enter in the lungs through the nose. Its stuck on the lungs, that’s why comes the hurdles in the breathing process. Its very dangerous to human body. By that reason body has squeeze. Body has totally weak. After, sometime in very critical condition patients has dead. This dust also enters through the water. At the mining place, there is no available of pure or clean water. So, its spread very fast. It should be affected after the 15 years of left the mine work.

We met the patients of silicosis at their house. Their experiences are very bad, from that time, they are suffering. In 2016 they got some help (1 lakh) from DMFT-District Mineral Foundation Trust, (government) after the checking of patients. The health committee, which is made by chief health officer of Bhilwara gave the certificates of silicosis patients. Certificate consider the help of government. If any person caused by silicosis, but he has no any certificate. He doesn’t get government help. Before death 1 lakh and after death 3 lakh is a provision in DMFT. But 1 lakh is not enough to the treatment of patient. Patients demands to more money for the treatment before death. It should be very useful to their cure. Because, they don’t have other income source and they can’t do the work in any condition.

One woman told about her situation. Her husband was working in the mines. He dead by the silicosis. But, doctor didn’t do the proper treatment. By the report of doctor, he was a patient of T.B. On that time there were no awareness about the silicosis. Also, the symptoms of the silicosis and T.B. are near by same. That’s why they didn’t differentiate of these diseases by lack of resources of checking. She purchased her own money for the treatment of husband. She sells her jewellery. She doesn’t have any certificate of the patients. Therefore, she didn’t get any profit from government scheme of DMFT.

Their opinion about the mines are…Mines should be banned. But, their livelihood is depends upon the mines. So, they say that if we don’t live, how we can work. "Life is more important than the mine work." If we will live, we will do work.

Sharad Kodane

PMKKKY and Realities of Mining Labourers in Bhilwara

The Central Government announced the launch of the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY) in 2015. This is a new programme meant to provide for the welfare of areas and people affected by mining-related operations, using the funds generated by District Mineral Foundations (DMFs).

 Sand stone mine in Bagor village in rainy season

The objective of PMKKKY scheme:-

To implement various developmental and welfare projects/programs in mining-affected areas that complement the existing ongoing schemes/projects of State and Central Government;

To minimize/mitigate the adverse impacts, during and after mining, on the environment, health and socio-economics of people in mining districts; and to ensure long-term sustainable livelihoods for the affected people in mining areas. Care has been taken to include all aspects of living, to ensure substantial improvement in the quality of life. High priority areas like drinking water supply, health care, sanitation, education, skill development, women and child care, the welfare of aged and disabled people, skill development and environment conservation will get at least 60 % share of the funds.

For creating a supportive and conducive living environment, balance funds will be spent on making roads, bridges, railways, waterways projects, irrigation and alternative energy sources. This way, the government is facilitating mainstreaming of the people from lower strata of society, tribals and forest-dwellers who have no wherewithal and are affected the most from mining activities.

The Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Amendment Act, 2015, mandated the setting up of District Mineral Foundations (DMFs) in all districts in the country affected by mining-related operations. The Central Government notified the rates of contribution payable by miners to the DMFs. In case of all mining leases executed before 12th January 2015 (the date of coming into force of the Amendment Act), miners will have to contribute an amount equal to 30% of the royalty payable by them to the DMFs. Where mining leases are granted after 12.01.2015, the rate of contribution would be 10% of the royalty payable. Using the funds generated by this contribution, the DMFs are expected to implement the PMKKKY.

The Central Government has issued a directive to the State Governments, under Section 20A of the MMDR Act, 1957, laying down the guidelines for implementation of PMKKKY and directing the States to incorporate the same in the rules framed by them for the DMFs. The DMFs have also been directed to maintain the utmost transparency in their functioning and provide periodic reports on the various projects and schemes taken up by them.

Mines worker -

As we already discussed the PMKKKY that is meant for the welfare of mines worker and people living in the mining area who are directly or indirectly affected by mining. But if we go through the realities of the scheme we found nothing like this. We talked with many people about the PMKKKY even educated people too they don’t know about this scheme. We went to almost 7-8 villages of Mandal block of Bhilwara District where we found that there are many issues they have in terms of education, drinking water, health care services and employment. Most of the people who have been worked in the mining and still who are working belongs to SC-ST. This block has 6 % Bhil (Tribe) population who all working in the mining. We talked with some people from the Bhil community, one person from them was telling us that he has been working for 20 years in the mining. When we asked him about what kind of facilities he get during mining he told us that only water tanker for drinking water other than this they get nothing. He was telling that it is very difficult and hard working job to do and Bhil community can do this work as they are very hard working people. ‘We drink alcohol because we got tired after coming from the work’, said by the people of the community. We asked about the DMFT to many people in the different villages, people do not aware about the name they heard this for the first time from us. We explained it and tried to make them understand that this is all for your benefit.

Discussion with mine workers in Bhawlas village 

I am surprised that why government launching everyday new scheme for the poor if people even don’t hear the name of the scheme after 2-3 years of the schemes. This is too far that schemes will implement at the grassroots without educating affected people about the schemes honestly. people facing many problems in the mining sector but when we asked them that what kind of facilities which is necessary for the mine workers most of the mine workers said that we don’t know and some of said that they don’t want anything, we have enough facilities. This shows that mine workers trapped into the conspiracy of mine owners and corrupt power holding people. They made workers like this that they feel happy and enough what they got in terms of facilities and wages.

BY- 
NEERAJ BUNKAR

The Livelihood problems of Dalit and Tribes in the Mandal Block of Bhilwara District

This blog is trying to understand the livelihood problems of Dalit and Tribes in the Mandal block of Bhilwara District, whom 98% people (D and T) are working in the mines. It is also try to understand the way of ontological approach.

The context of the Bhilwara district (Rajasthan) is different rather than other parts of India. Therefore, the ground realities of this area are different rather than other state. The structure of caste system and the practices are unique. In addition, cultural behaviour is connected to the person by the communication. In Bhilwara, district people use the local language Mewari. Its little bit understands to me, not whole. So, many times, do not understand the actual context behind of their speaking. However, it is nice vocal language. Without understand of this language, anyone cannot do the ontological inquiry of the plight of Dalit and tribe or their livelihood issues. It is possible to inquire of their physical situation, but it’s not possible about their inner situation or their own experience.

98% Dalit and tribal (in entire Labour) are working in the mining sector. The proportion of men is more than women in this work. Because, most of the people are migrate for some month at the place of mines. So, they come alone and stayed nearby mines, where they have work. Some people create their own kacha houses from the some distance of mine. They are staying from 20 years in that place (Jodhpur mining area bhat-basti). They do not have a entry in the inner side of city or village. Because, they are lower caste. In Jodhpur, area purohit was against of this mineworker, who wants to make their house nearby purohit society. That is why they staying at mining place. Therefore, it is a problematic of their health and they caused by silicosis disease.

In today’s condition, most of the people know about as like issues. However, they are working in the mines. Because, they do not have other option of livelihood. Some people have land, but very less ex., one bigha, 2 bigha. It is not enough to their livelihood. In addition, farming is depends upon the rainy season. Therefore, it is a problematic issue.

I search in one village, there are nomadic tribes. They do not have a employment. People do not give the employment to them, because of the stigma of thief. Therefore, they are going door to door for the begging. They are discriminated from other upper caste community. However, before some days ago one Dalit contractor starts the work of school building and he take the workers in nomadic community. He said his experience about them and the approach of society looking them. He is conscious about their plight. Therefore, according to him, these are needy people, who have not worked for their livelihood. He provides the work to them. He gives 150-200 rupees to them daily for their work. When he start the work of this school, worker of this community didn’t came, very few people came, then this number is rise day by day. However, at the work place they are humiliated from upper caste.

By the reason of unconscious about education, they cannot get the job in government or private sector, which are demands to merit. Caste system is functioning for the upper caste. Tribes also discriminated as like Dalit. Their right rights of jal, jangal, jamin are in very problematic situation. That is why they are working in the mines. Both are depends upon the mines…

Sharad D. Kodane

Interview with Bhanwar Ji

DIscussion with Bhanwar Ji (in yellow kurta).

Whenever I discuss with Bhanwar Ji I feel fresh and get new energy and perspective to see the world in different ways. Bhanwar Ji is an energetic person, who always fight against the injustice and atrocities happening on Dalits-tribals, women, minorities and those who are in the conflict zone in society. He has multiple ways to resolve the problems of the society. He always presents for the cause without taking rest. Our discussion started on conditions of workers who are working in mining, and what options should be adopted to make the people aware and take them into the mainstream of society who are living at the bottom of the society, came to an end. Things will never end when discussion happening with Bhanwar ji. Anybody can attract the way he talks on different issues by giving examples which occurred in his private life.

Referring to Rajasthan's mines, he said that most of the mines in Rajasthan are owned by dominant /upper caste people of the society who are directly or indirectly connected with the political leaders. They treat people of lower caste just a laborer who has to work only, nothing to say or listen. We asked Bhanwar Ji that we want to talk to all the workers and want to conduct a case study on them, then Bhanwar Ji said, 'Do you think that the time that you have will be managed by workers? We said that we want to take two to three hours of laborers then after that what Bhanwar Ji said is a very serious and thoughtful subject. He said that those who discuss various aspects of the society for two to three hours either those who are interested in social service who are eating food at the time easily, workers who think about their work day and night after coming from work, they do not have enough energy that they can talk to us for two to three hours. After returning from work, as much energy is left to just eat food.All the laborers go to work in the morning and return at night to sleep after eating food.this is all about their daily routine. Bhanwar Ji told that if you ask the laborers that are you dreaming? Listening to your question, they will laugh at you and say that we can’t see dreams, they come when we sleep at night, they do not know that dreams also are those which we see with open eyes. The dreams that come to them at night also are mostly related to their wages.

Then our discussion went into Babasaheb framework which he used in the community at a different level. Bhanwar Ji talked about the experiments of Ambedkar in the context of satyagraha for the water right, temple entry movement, against Hinduism and finally, he realized that after my death community need a religion so, people can be united on common the basis of common identity. According to Bhanwar Ji ‘religion is a necessary thing to live like food, oxygen, without religion people can’t survive that’s why Babasaheb offered Buddhism to his community’. But Buddhism what Babasaheb introduced navyana is failed because people adopted it like other religion then what is the meaning of conversion? when we asked Bhanwar Ji that which element is paramount in the society, caste or religion? He replied that caste is superior to anything in the society ever because without caste religion can't survive, religion is just an idea where caste is a strategy/agency to implement it. If we see Buddhism where people get into it because they fed up with casteism but after converting still they are searching same caste Buddhist bride/groom for their daughter/son. He emphasized more on the individualistic perspective rather than communitarian perspective because he believed that we should focus on individual development which can be helpful to build an alternative for the development of the community. He rejected the historical framework which kept us in the same situation. He talked that rather than talking about history or look back into past we have to re-construct our thought process and have to talk on the distribution of resources. There is no meaning by crying on past .it’s better to focus on the present and establish a mechanism so, that upcoming generations will not face any problems that we are facing in the present. Like Bodhi sir always used to say that we should think in a linear way rather than thinking in a circular way. In a linear way, we focus on the present and try to do better than past and make future better than present but in a circular way it is totally different we do things in the same way without trying to change its nature.

A photo with Bhanwar Ji in front of his house (Ambedkar Bhawan).

Further, he talked about the alternative for the upliftment of the marginalized section of society. He said ‘ As we have lost our political battle, social battle but still we are engaging in social battle but we are not focusing on the economic battle which is more essential than anything in the society’. We must create a ‘Business Model’ that will be less discriminatory and more beneficiary to our community. It should be at three level; production, sale, consumer. Products will be produced by the Dalit or marginalized community only and for selling there will be Bahujan business center which sale every product within the community and consumer will be our community only. As we grow in this sector we can extend our business plan with other Buddhist countries. So, the Business Model will work like this and through it, we can be economically strong, our people get more work, no one will be unemployed and less dependency on others.

By- 

Neeraj Bunkar

Constitutional Rights and Plight of Mining Labours

Constitutional Rights and Plight of Mining Labours

Every citizen has a right to live life with the dignity as per the constitution of India (Article 21). Its also ensure the healthy working condition to every worker or labours (Article 42), who are working any place in the country. But, these acts are not proper implementing at any place in the country. For example, mines.

Rajasthan is within first 10 statesin the country in mining sector. There are 33000 mines (sand-stones, asbestos, soap-stone, mica, granite, coal), and 25 lakh workers are working in present condition according to government data. But, 98% workers are belonging to Scheduled castes and Scheduled tribes, which are marginalized communities, exploited from upper castes. Most of the workers are migrated at mines place from other areas of Rajasthan. They are staying near by mines or outside of villages. Because, they don’t allow in the village or near by upper caste societies. Where they are working and staying, there is lack of resource or basic needs.

We observed Jodhpur mining areas, and did some pilot studies about the plight of Dalit and Tribal people. They don’t have the basic things. The first thing there is happening a discrimination from upper caste and mines owner at mines place. They don’t have pakka house and electricity. There is no school facilities for their children. Also, they don’t have consciousness about the education. Therefore, their children working in the same condition. At the mining place, there is no safety instrument for the labours safety. Pure drinking water is not available at the mining place. Proportion of air pollution is raising day to day. That’s why health issues are raising day by day, so most of the worker died by silicosis, asbestosis and other diseases, which are caused by mines dust. By the reason of lack of awareness of their health.

Government working from 2015 for them through the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojna (PMKKKY) on district level issues through DMFT (District Mineral Foundation Trust). Also, Mine Labour Protection Campaign (MLPC) and Human Rights Commission working from 20 years, for the labour rights, but there is no any constructive or basic change. By the reason of mainstream social work perspective.

There is need to awareness of their dignity, education, rights-law and movement for change by the way of Ambedkarite vision.

Sharad D. Kodane

My first experience with Mines and Marginalized communities in the mining area of Jodhpur

        My first experience with Mines and Marginalized communities in the mining area of Jodhpur

I began my journey from Mumbai to Jodhpur with a lot of excitement to know about the minefield. I knew a little bit about the Jodhpur stones because people of my area in Churu district they use these type of stones in their buildings but was not fully aware of this sector. So I was curious to know about a thing of mining sector like how mine workers work in mines. And I was not having any kind of prior experience related to mining. So I started my journey with my classmates those were good friends of mine. The journey was not started as I expected. First we booked a cab for railway station and for that cab one and half hour after that driver chancel the ride and we had to book another cab that also took too much and we arrived at the station two or three minutes before running the train and yet one of our friends did not reach at the station so for him we had to pull the chain of the train and talked with railway department officials about that then it was not stopped at that movement we had very less cash with us but we had money in our ATMs so we managed still we reached in Jodhpur. We reached early in the morning and took some rest and in the afternoon we went to the mining area and see how the mines look like and got some important information about the mines and mining-affected area and also about the mine workers. After that, we went to Umaid palace that I have already seen in 2013 but my friends were new here they wanted to visit there so went and try to understand the history of Jodhpur and about Jodhpur royal family like how they used to live their lives and so on. After that the next day we started our journey for Udaipur we went through the forest area and we had a chance to see the beautiful sceneries in that area and that beautiful views helped to break the notion of my friends those are not from Rajasthan that Rajasthan has only desert area and Rajasthanis are struggling with the water issue. After reaching in Udaipur we had a chance to meet with people who are working on the issue of mines and silicosis disease. After that, I went back to Jodhpur in the evening with MLPC(Mining Labour Protection Campaign) NGO staff. Next day I went to field area where mine workers come to meet union worker those who raise their voice for mine workers rights and took few interviews of mine workers those are mostly Dalits(Meghwals) and tribals(Bhils). Now till today I have taken interviews from three villages Kaliberi, Sodho ki Dhani, Gandero ki Dhani here in all three place I found that only ST and SCs are working in mine and according to some mine workers So-called high caste people do not go to work in mines and those Dalits and Tribal people who are working in mining area affected by Silicosis disease and their economic condition is also very low. We can easily observe that they are not doing their caste-based occupation but they are still marginalized and struggling with their lives.  

Marble Mining and Tribes of Rajasthan: A Small Reflection from the Field

In the Indian context, mining has affected indigenous peoples in a severe manner. In mining areas, those who got displaced by it are the most vulnerable but those who didn’t get the same fate are not in good conditions. The population which lives in nearby places of mines are categorised into two kinds i.e. directly affected or indirectly affected. The population which is directly affected by it has the close proximity to the mines and have to face hardships in their day to day life. On the other hand, the indirectly affected population are those which got affected only when there is a ‘big’ activity like bombing and emission of earthly gases etc.

As a part of the block field work, I got the opportunity to conduct interviews in the mine-affected areas of Udaipur district of Rajasthan. After surfing through the Department of Mines & Geology(http://www.mines.rajasthan.gov.in/dmgcms/page?menuName=/q/rwh/KECGBTz5dXJKcuA== ) and with the help of local contact person I and my colleague selected a village of Rishabhdev Tehsil. After the first visit to the village and a small conversation with the Sarpanch, our team get to know about the demography of the panchayat which was constituted mainly of Meena (Bhil) tribe and a small portion of Meghwal caste group. We discussed with them about how mines have affected their lives in terms of livelihood, health, forests, rituals and customary practices etc. Along with this the discussion also get revolved around the Fifth Schedule, PESA and mining {which I will discuss in upcoming post}. After this, the team conducted several interviews and take some feedback around the impacts of mining.

The points that were put up by the Sarpanch and the people of the village were thrilling and were very calculated in terms of showing the impacts of mining on tribal life and livelihood. Many of them argued that authorities haven’t paid much attention towards our issues and if complaints were made actions were not taken up. For this negligence they claimed that it is the nexus between the mine owner and the political leaders and in fact, many of the mines are owned by politicians in a direct or indirect manner. Forests, grazing land is disappearing rapidly, natural water sources are getting contaminated, farming has become difficult due to water flashed away by mines into the fields, number of livestock has become one-fourth in recent years due to disappearance of grazing land, health of the village is deepening and the mine workers of the village are facing multiple problems in terms of health and poverty. 

Though the level of education has raised the in terms of higher education there are problems. The interesting fact of the village was that despite the availability of jobs in mines majority of the youths are getting migrated to Gujrat in search of livelihood. When we inquired about this sort of migration then the responses came like; ‘they didn’t hire us because we demand good wages and in case of an accident we have protested for compensation’. That’s why mine owners are hiring migrants from states like UP and Bihar because they can compromise in low wages and little amount of compensation in case of mis-happening. The ratio at which the locals are employed is around 3:10, which for me is problematic. It is also argued by many of the respondents that despite coming under the administration of Fifth Schedule none of the mines are owned by tribes (de facto), although many of them argued that mine owners cleverly uses IDs of local people for occupying mines (de jure), since non-tribes can not buy and purchase land in tribal areas.

This small reflection is a glimpse of upcoming posts and my opinions will rotate around the issues that are discussed in this post. Hope I can reflect upon the issues of the Adivasis vis a vis mining with whom I will be engaging for at least three weeks.

Thanking You in Anticipation

Mohammad Imran