Manish Chandra Mishra

Panna/Bhopal: No lessons seem to have been learnt from the Meghalaya coal mine tragedy. Even as nearly 20 died in separate incidents over the past few weeks while illegally mining coal in the northeastern state, illegal mining in Madhya Pradesh (MP), for coal’s sparkling derivative, also is putting lives and health of many in danger.

Manor, a small village 15 km from the district headquarters of Panna, which is India’s only diamond-producing region, bears witness to the heavy price being paid for mining the coveted stone. When you enter, it’s unlikely you will be able to find a male aged above 45. The average age of men here is just 50.

Yousuf Beg, an activist with Prithvi Trust and a resident of Panna, says Manor is called the village of widows. “Most women here have lost their husbands,” he adds. 

Last year, Shyamiya Gond, Pyarelal Gond and Sukhnandi Gond of the nearby Bador village, Ram Das from Gadhi village, and Balram Singh, Kishor Singh and Lal Singh from Madaiyan died while mining diamonds. Local activists said they had been suffering from silicosis, a lung disease caused by inhalation of crystalline silica dust.

They aren’t the only casualties though — when villagers begin remembering departed loved ones, the death toll mounts steadily. However, as per government data, only four miners succumbed to silicosis, as they didn’t get proper treatment in hospital.

The dark side of diamond

Manor is just an example of the damage illegal mining has caused in Panna. This region has India’s only mechanised diamond mine at Majhgawan, operated by the National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) and having an annual production of around 40,000 carats (FY ’18). Over 10,000 miners work there.

Apart from this, the government or local administration leases out 8x8-metre plots of private or revenue land to prospective miners in the rest of the district. While these mines have legal standing, there are likely to be thousands operating illegally on forestland. But legality notwithstanding, labourers at private mines bear the brunt of low wages, debt-bonded labour, and lack of safety equipment.

A local activist, Ravi Kant Pathak, says, “Contractors employ labourers on a commission basis, to avoid paying them daily. If a team finds diamonds, the contractor or head of the illegal mine gives the miners a share. In the absence of worthwhile employment opportunities, these labourers have no option but to work for 12 to 14 hours for days on end without wages, and that’s how they fall in the debt trap.”

Earlier, mining would be done only during the monsoons, as a lot of water is needed to wash the diamonds. Nowadays, however, labourers have to work all year round, making use of water from borewells for the washing. Workers need to dig open pits and collect small stones, and later, wash them twice or thrice to remove all the soil and clay. During the digging, they end up inhaling copious amounts of silica through the dust, and contract silicosis.

Locals from several villages in this region are facing serious health issues — in some, almost all men suffer from TB or silicosis; in others, most women are anemic; and in all, underweight children are the norm.

Beg laments, “It’s not just the miners; even their families are in a perilous situation. Most women are anemic. Recently, we got a number of underweight children from the mining families admitted to hospitals.” 

Buried under government apathy

Illegal diamond mining coupled with lack of awareness and social security is also leading to a high rate of illiteracy. Many labourers bring their children with them to the mining sites, and as a result, the kids miss school. 

According to census 2011 data, Manor village’s literacy rate was 49.88%, significantly lower than MP’s 69.32%.

Pathak lays the blame for this sorry situation squarely on diamond and sandstone mining. “The problem of unemployment in this region is humongous. Hence, most villagers head to the mines, illegal or legal, working long hours without safety equipment and, subsequently, falling prey to illnesses,” he says.

While the government does provide compensation for registered miners suffering from silicosis, Pathak alleges that the process of marking a silicosis patient itself is flawed. He says, “Compensation was released for only four labourers after they died last year. There may be over 500 others in the district suffering from silicosis.”

However, district administration claims it has identified over 100 labourers, and the process of providing monthly compensation to them has already begun. 

What about the thousands unregistered, working at unknown and illegal mines, though, ask activists. Contractors of these mines are so powerful that labourers are scared to speak out. One of them, on condition of anonymity, says the contractor pays him daily, but there are many who are debt-ridden.

Those working in the only state-operated mine don’t fare any better either, lacking social security and basic amenities, including safety equipment. NDMC, however, in its annual report, claims that it provides proper safety equipment to the labourers and also has well-equipped hospitals with medical teams available 24/7.

Rakesh Malviya, a Bhopal-based social activist who visited the diamond mines of Panna recently, says, “The socio-economic condition of these families is so bad that they are forced to work for hours without eating. I have seen pregnant women working at those mines without stopping for required sustenance. Migration is another problem in the region. Those unable to make ends meet through mining are leaving their hometowns for Delhi and Bhopal.” 

‘Healthcare initiatives alone not enough’

Social researcher Amulya Nidhi, who had conducted a case study for Jan Swasthya Abhiyan in MP, says, “Recent estimates from India suggest over 3 million workers are exposed to silica dust, and another 8.5 million working on construction sites are exposed to quartz dust. According to government data, around 8,000 people are suffering from silicosis in MP. In pursuance of a Supreme Court order, in 2010, the National Human Rights Commission passed an order asking the MP government to rehabilitate the diseased.” 

Nidhi suggests that the government should bring a permanent solution to the problem of silicosis and other health hazards that locals face. If they eliminate illegal mining and introduce strict safety norms for workers, the life of a labourer will be better, he believes.

On high levels of anemia among the women and children, District Chief Medical and Health Officer Dr. L K Tiwari says, “We are taking a proactive approach to eliminate the health problems plaguing the women. There is enough awareness; the real problem is poverty and unemployment. The health department is undertaking several initiatives, such as regular check-ups for anemia, and a Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre to combat chronic malnutrition. We have also launched a dedicated programme for silicosis patients, who are examined by nodal officer Dr. D K Gupta every Tuesday at the district hospital. We have provided cards to all patients for availing free treatment.

“We are providing the requisite healthcare, but precautionary measures are necessary to protect the labourers from diseases. The mining department gives leases to private companies for mining. At the time of agreement, the government should enforce strict safety norms for the workers, in addition to the companies organising routine check-ups.”

But with local contractors and illegal miners having the region in a strong stranglehold, administration has expressed helplessness in curbing the menace. This reporter approached Panna collector Manoj Khatri, but on hearing the words ‘illegal mining’, he refused to comment.

Pictures: Manish Chandra Mishra