Children - Terre des Hommes

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has created a peculiar aesthetics for tourism and the film
industry, the workers and the Medical Officer interviewed,
were suspicious that some of the health problems could be
related to radiation or dust pollution associated with the mine
tailing or the cyanide hill. While media reports in the past
indicate probable health problems, there has been no scientific
study done to take any safety precautions or protection of the
environment and water bodies.
Access to Water
Closed BGML Hospital in Kolar township which provided free medical services
for workers and their famililes (Photo June 2009)
requirements of the township as well as the general public of
the taluka as it is highly understaffed. The Medical Officer
reported that the workers mainly suffer from respiratory
illnesses, chronic bronchitis, asthma, tuberculosis (TB) and
silicosis although the latter is not an officially confirmed
diagnosis as most silicosis patients, to the convenience of
the state and the industry, are diagnosed with tuberculosis.
The health problems of the children, as reported by the
Medical Officer relate to respiratory illnesses, skin diseases,
bronchitis and malaria. The Medical Officer also stated that
there were cases of HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted
Diseases (STD) but it was hard to state whether they were
from the township or outside as the workers do not have a
separate hospital now. The workers’ families are unable to
meet the medical expenses, so some of the workers’ unions are
voluntarily helping the families in accessing medical facilities.
Therefore the burden of supporting the families has fallen on
the youth again.
The mine tailings or the cyanide hill as it is popularly known
is located in the center of the township. Ironically, while it
Water scarcity is one of the most serious problems reported
by the people who state that while they live above gallons
of accumulated groundwater from the aquifers ruptured by
the mining activity, they do not have access to safe drinking
water. Water shortage is felt round the year and as they have
to pay for the water supplied to them, the sanitation and
hygiene of the township is of serious concern.
Conclusions
KGF was a public sector mining company, yet it could
not set any practice for a comprehensive mine closure.
The government simply walked away from the problem
with justified grounds of lack of unity among the unions.
Mining is a sector with high economic stakes and with
the strongest risk to democracy as decisions are made
on the basis of muscle power rather than on behalf of
the good of the majority, whether during the course of
mining or post-mining. KGF is a standing example of
this fix. Although there is no other community living here
other than the workers’ community, no definitive future
plan has emerged so far that the government can set as a
precedent for private companies to follow. As India rushes
into public-private partnerships and privatisation of the
mining sector, accountability from mining companies
during or after a mining project, its specific impacts on
children and youth, has little demands, expectations,
regulations or monitoring that can ensure socio-economic
viability post-mining.
(Acknowledgements: This case study was done in partnership
with Sakhi, Hospet, and Mr.Kumar, freelance journalist of
Kolar who together organised the field visits to KGF. We
thank them for accompanying us to the KGF township and
helping with the field interviews.)
Cyanide heap in the middle of Kolar township–the controversial hill that is
supposed to be causing radiation (Photo June 2009)