Children - Terre des Hommes

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Follow up interviews were carried out in Jodhpur district
in October 2009. Although a huge variety of minerals are
produced in Rajasthan, time constraints of the project
meant that the team focused on sandstone, limestone and
lignite for this study.
Demography
The communities involved in mining in both Jodhpur and
Jaisalmer districts are mostly SCs and STs. All interviewed
across the districts confirmed that the vast majority of the
mine and quarry workers are from these groups and almost
all are landless. 92 Some of the mine workers interviewed in
Jodhpur district had migrated from other parts of the state.
These migrant workers were living in makeshift housing,
close to the stone quarries. Most communities interviewed,
however, had been living in these areas for many years and
were previously engaged in agriculture. Residents of Gandero
Ki Dhani village, a predominantly SC village in Jodhpur
district, explained how they were the second generation
engaged in mining work; prior to this, the village survived
on agriculture and livestock herding. 93
Residents of an ST village in Jodhpur district, Bhat Basti,
located close to Kaliberi mining area, explained how
they used to be nomadic, but because of the increase in
population in Rajasthan and less land availability, they could
no longer find land for livestock grazing. As a result 20 years
ago they were forced to sell their animals and move to this
site, close to the mines in the hope of finding work. 94 There
Houses of stone quarry workers in Jodhpur. (Photo July 2009)
were around 40 households living in this community, with
around 8–10 children per family. All of the adults, and most
of the children over 12 years, work in a mine, approximately
1.5 km away.
In Jethwai village, 12 km from the city of Jaisalmer, there
were around 300 households. Villagers reported that 70
per cent of the people working in the limestone quarries
here had come from outside the area (e.g. from Jodhpur
district) and the remaining 30 per cent were from this area.
Approximately 90 per cent of the inhabitants of Jethwai work
in mining. The remaining 10 per cent own some livestock or
work in Jaisalmer city.
Economic Context
Increasing amounts of land previously used for agriculture
had now been converted for mining and quarrying activities.
This is an extremely worrying situation, given that around
80 per cent of the state’s population still live in rural areas
and are dependent on agriculture for their livelihoods. Many
of the communities interviewed across all the districts had
previously relied upon agriculture or livestock grazing for
their survival, but were now working as daily wage labourers
in the mines due to lack of available land.
“We used to be rich, but now we have nothing.”
- Village leader from ST community, Bhat Basti, Jodhpur district
In Bhat Basti, Jodhpur district, residents explained how the
land used to belong to the government, so they could use it
to graze their animals on, but now it was all privately owned
or encroached illegally by mine owners. There was no free
land left, they explained, as people were even occupying the
government land and mining there. 95
In another village, Joga, in Jaisalmer district, there were
around 2,500 inhabitants, 90 per cent of whom were
dependent on agriculture and livestock. However, since
industrial mining of limestone started on their doorstep
15 years ago, problems in the village had increased. The
dust from the mines had destroyed their crops, and their
livestock was dying after eating the dust-covered leaves. 96
92. Interviews with mining communities in Jaisalmer and Jodhpur, July 2009.
93. Interviews carried out in Gandero Ki Dhani village, Jodhpur district, July 2009.
94. Interviews carried out in Bhat Basti, Jodhpur district, July 2009.
95. Interviews carried out in Bhat Basti, Jodhpur district, July 2009.
96. Interviews carried out in Joga village, Jaisalmer district, July 2009.