Quest for Justice for Indian Mica Miners: An Enviro-Human Perspective

Beauty sometimes hides harsh truth behind. No cosmetic can be imagined to be manufactured without the presence of Mica. India, being one of the large exporters of Mica, holds large reserves of Mica in its Eastern and Central Region, covering states like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh etc. The region is one of the backward regions of the nation where illegal mica mining is the main source of livelihood for the poor and destitute people living in the region. Being famed for the issue of child labour and environmental degradation, mica mining is primarily the root cause of Environmental-Human rights violations in the region. Mica mining is not only hazardous to human beings but also the flora and fauna in the region. The present paper discusses the issues regarding the violation of the Environmental-Human Rights of the people living in these areas primarily children. The paper also discusses the provisions of constitutional and Environmental laws dealing with mica mining, the role of stakeholders in illegal mining along with recommendations for resolving the issues.