‘Mica’ is the heart and electronic resistance mineral, well known for its properties and uniqueness all over the world for makeup products, electronic insulation, etc. Mica remains in demand and the majority of mica production is from India (Bihar, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan).
It could have been the cherry on the top but it became the curse for the country and its people. However, most of the mica mining in India is illegally engaging children.
The dark side of mica mining is egregious to believe as it was estimated that approximately 2,000 children were involved in mica scavenging in Jharkhand and Bihar and this report was presented by NGO Tera des hommes. Apart from this Children in Need Institute (CINI) made a 2018 report whereby they found that 45 children died due to mica scavenging in 2013 to 2018.
These are just the bloodcurdling data, as there are many more deaths which remained undiscovered and their rights buried with their death.
Backlog
In the past, India was the exporter of the majority of fine mica. They were and still are the biggest producers. But right now more than 70% of mica production is illegal. The Government of Jharkhand hasn’t given permission for mica mining but it is being exported from Koderma and other parts of the state.
1950s
More than 24,000 people were working in around 700 mica mines which were exported through a railway track in the Bengal Nagpur Zone.
1970s
During this juncture, mica was exported all over the world and the mica produced in Jharkhand was considered as a superior quality.
1980s
This year, Forest Conservation Act,1980 abandoned extraction of mica in Jharkhand but do you think that proved to be effective?
The only thing that changed after enactment of the forest conservation act 1980 was the word ‘legal mining’ was replaced with “illegal mining”.
It is egregious to believe that miscreants became more greedy and unfailingly exploited the victims. They are conversant with the fact that the right to the life of children and the family can be seized any time but still the value of human life is frivolous for them.
Provisions related to Mica Mining
Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulations) Act, 1957
This act was enacted on 28th Dec 1956 which aimed to regulate mining in India and extract minerals with minimum exploitation. That was the reason why it was mentioned that mining in forest can’t be done without the permission of the Ministry of Environment & Forest.
Section 23(C) of the aforementioned act, stated that the State government has the power to make any rules for preventing illegal mining, transport and shortage of minerals.
Bihar Mica Act, 1947
Under this act, a person needs to have lawful possession of mica mines and if he doesn’t have any valid lease under Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulations) Act, 1957, he shall not get license and won’t be permitted to run mica mines.
Mica Mines Labour Welfare Funds Act, 1946
The act aims at providing financial assistance to labour employed in mica mining. Under this act, the Central Government is required to use the fund for the improvement of Public Health, sanitation and other medical facilities along with improvement of water supplies. They will also provide housing facilities to improve the standard of labour employed in mica mining.
