An Introduction to Mine Labour Protection Campaign
19/9 B Choupasni Housing Board, Jodhpur, Rajasthan – 342008, India
Phone: +91-291-2703160 Fax: +91-291-2703956 Email: info@mlpc.in
Website: www.mlpc.in
Rajasthan
•Largest state in India, it encompasses
most of the area of the large,
inhospitable Great Indian Desert (Thar
Desert), and shares international
border with Pakistan
•Rajasthan covers an area of 132,150
sq mi or 342,239 km².
•Has a population of 68.6m (2011)
•Rajasthan is one of the largest
producers of minerals and stones in
India. It produces 10% of the world’s
and 70% of India’s output of
sandstone and is home to the famous
Makrana marble mines.
Mining Revenue
The value of mineral production in Rajasthan during 2009-10 at INR
71.6 Bn.
As per the data provided in “Mineral Royalties” issued by
Controller General, Indian Bureau of Mines, Nagpur, January 2011,
Royalty Collections for Major Minerals (excluding coal & lignite)
during 2009-10 for Important Mineral Producing States is highest in
the state of Rajasthan, at INR987.31 crores. Royalty Accrual for
Minor Minerals During in 2009-10 is also one of the highest in
Rajasthan at INR50277.05 lakhs as per the information.
It is the sole producer of lead concentrate, zinc concentrate, calcite
and wollastonite. Almost the entire production of silver, Ochre and
mineral gypsum in the country was reported from the State (Govt.
Website).
Mining in Rajasthan
It has the highest number of mine leases in the country – 2587
leases for major minerals (24.67%), 10,851 for minor minerals and
19,251 quarry licenses for mining stones
Apart from Corporate Mining, Rajasthan largely has Artisanal
mining
Unregulated legal mining and rampant illegal mining in Rajasthan
has systematically destroyed forests, devastated the Aravallis, and
played havoc with the water resources of the state, says Centre for
Science and Environment’s Sixth State of India’s Environment report,
“Rich Lands, Poor People”
Rajasthan has thousands of unorganised mines, which can be as
small as one-twentieth of a hectare. They fall out of the purview of
government control and there are no accounts of these mines.
Livelihood
Estimated 2.5 million mine workers employed in over 30,000
small and large mines as daily wage workers
 Estimated Ninety-eight percent of this workforce is tribal or dalit
(belonging to the erstwhile ‘untouchable’ class), which places
them among the most marginalized of India’s poor
According to Anti-Slavery International, approximately 1 million
children do extremely dangerous work in India’s stone quarries.
The low wages of parents (a daily average of INR 40 to 50) (US90¢
to US$1.12) is the primary reason for child labour
No employment proof, no labour rights, systematically deprived
of their proper wages and state-sponsored welfare and social
security schemes. No leave, no fixed hours of working, no
retirement or pension, and health benefits.
Intervention
We work on Labour Rights - Struggle to provide them with an
identity – Survey and Submission to concerned labour
department
Access to Government schemes
Safety Helpline
Cooperatives – mine workers cooperative
Prevention of next generation of exploited labourers – day
care centres
Policy and Advocacy
Media Involvement
Environment and Health
•Mines and quarries abandoned and left as open pits
•High levels of dust pollution
• Environmental laws – there has to be plantation on 33% of
the mining area within 5 years
•High incidence of silicosis and asbestosis
•Recently state government has allocated INR 25 crore 60 lakhs
(approximately $ 5000000) to be spent through the Rajasthan
Environment Health Administration Board
Intervention
•Restoration of mined lands through MNREGA – Mahatma Gandhi
National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme – providing
livelihood and reclamation of the land
•Bio remedial measure for prevention of asbestosis
•Watchdog to ensure that the allotted budget is judiciously spent
•Diagnosis of occupational diseases to prove its existence
•Strategy for legal recourse for compensation
•Advocating for the Rajasthan State Pneumoconiosis Board
Export of Stones
•In terms of stone type, India is world export leader in limestone
and sandstone slabs
•India is a global leader in terms of granite exports - mainly granite
cut blocks, granite slabs and tiles
•On average over 10% of the natural stone traded on the world
market comes from India
•The annual export growth rate has been around 10 % to 15 %
over the last decade
•European companies like Marshall, Beltrami and Lithos source
stones from India and label them as “ethical stones”
Setting Code of Conduct
Some of the hurdles for setting standards based on whatever
mechanisms are as follows:
1. Un-identified workers
2. Small-scale quarries (more than 90 per cent)
3. Piece-rate wage and temporary employment
4. Contract labour
5. Inability of small quarry owners to meet the compliance cost
6. Reluctant approach to community based development and
services
 ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION and DEVELOPMENT (OECD)
Guidelines in Supply Chain
Mine Labour Protection Campaign
(www.mlpc.in)
Investigating an illegal
mine
A mine worker’s hut
THANK YOU
A Mine Workers
Cooperative fair price shop
MLPC meeting in progress
Women who received
compensation