Children - Terre des Hommes

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At Thumbli village, residents explained how they were
threatened with displacement by the lignite mining company,
along with 15–20 other villages in the area. 104 Each village
has an average of 50 families, which amounts to around
3,000 children affected. The lignite mining began in 1994.
Prior to this, all families were dependent on agriculture. In
Thumbli, there are 15 families who lost all of their land to
mining. Residents explained how within the next year, none
in the village will have any land left as it will all have been
taken by the government mining company. People are being
told by the company that the government had subsoil rights
wherever there is coal.
In addition to the poor compensation being offered, local
people claim that they were not getting jobs in the mines and
factories, and were told that they lack the necessary skills, as
their traditional work is agriculture. People were being forced
to migrate from their homes to find work—one person from
each family was found to be moving to states such as Gujarat
and Maharashtra to look for work on construction sites, thus
causing a breakdown of family and community structures.
This displacement has a serious impact on children, who are
pulled out of school and forced into work when the economic
situation of their family worsens. 105
Lack of Alternatives to Mining
“The mine for us is agriculture. There’s nothing
else”.
- Female self-help group (SHG) member, Bhuri Beri village, Jodhpur
district
explained how the mines have been operating in the area
for around 50 years, but now the stones are starting to get
exhausted. The mine next to their village was likely to close
in around five years time, leaving them with no form of
employment, and therefore unable to support their families.
Residents explained how some mines had already closed
down around other villages in the area, such as Sipla, 38 km
away, leading to a huge increase in unemployment, especially
amongst the youth. 106 The people of Jethwai are anxious to
remain in the village, but fear that if the mining stops and no
other work is made available to them, then they may be forced
to migrate from the area. The impact of this, as explained
later, has been on the local schools losing their children for
mine work, given the poverty of the families here.
Status of Education
“The main problem is the lack of education here.
We are telling the government that we will give land
and a building, but please give us a decent school.
The mines can close anytime but if our children are
educated, they can find a job elsewhere.”
- Mine worker, Jethwai village, Jaisalmer district
Across all three districts, parents recognised the importance
of quality education for their children and highlighted this
as a major concern in the mining areas. However, in all
the communities the same crucial issues around education
were raised—the lack of basic facilities in schools, teacher
absence, the lack of secondary schools in the area. Parents
expressed frustration over the fact that their children have
“The good work was earlier— agriculture and
animal husbandry”
- Resident, Joga village, Jaisalmer district
In all the villages and mines visited, the same message was
repeated over and over—there are no alternatives to mining
work. If alternative livelihood opportunities were available
to them, they were exhausted by the destruction of land
and water resources due to mining activities. Otherwise
people would leave the mines and quarries immediately,
as this work is not viewed as ‘good work’. In some villages,
people expressed concern about what will happen when the
stones finish. In Jethwai village, Jaisalmer district, residents
Children of stone quarry workers in Bhat Basti, Jodhpur
(Photo July 2009)
104. According to residents in Thumbi, the villages most affected are: Thumbli, Giral, Jalela, Khejadli, Sonadi, Vishalaghot, Badres, Gotia, Kapurdi, Bhonaniyoki
Dhani, Akali and Jalipaa.
105. Interview with residents of Thumbli village, Barmer district, July 2009.
106. Interview with residents of Jethwai village, Jaisalmer district, July 2009.