HUMAN RIGHTS AWARENESS CRISIS: MICA MINING VIOLATIONS FOR COSMETICS
A person must go through childhood, this period is considered a time for a child to grow and develop, that’s when there are lots of beautiful memories and valuable experiences. But not everyone has a happy childhood. There are still many children out there who do not get the happiness and beautiful memories of that time. One phenomenon that robs children of their childhood is child labor, which is usually found in economically and industrially developed countries. Factors causing this phenomenon include economic, social and cultural factors that encourage them to work. This phenomenon is an exploitation activity, because it employs minors where this work can endanger the child’s safety and growth and development. We can find this phenomenon in India. India is known as the largest mica producer in the world, Koderma district in Jharkand and Bihar Province is home to the largest mica reserves in India.
Mica is a type of mineral that is easily separated into thin and elastic sheets. Mica is usually found in igneous and metamorphic rocks. One of the functions of mica is in the cosmetics and electronics fields. In the field of cosmetics itself, it can provide a shiny effect and treat blemishes on the skin. Currently, there are many kinds of cosmetic products which boast of making the face brighter and shinier, this effect comes from mica, including sunscreen, high letter, lip gloss and nail polish. There are lots of brands out there that source mica from India.
This makes the demand for mica in India high. In order to fulfill the demand, the states of Jharkand and Bihar as places with the largest mica reserves in the country must be able to fulfill it. Most of the mines in Jharkand and Bihar are illegal mines. Where the demand for mica is so high while they do not have so many workers, this makes mica industry owners employ underage children to be able to meet this high demand.
This is what triggers child labor. The majority of residents of Jharkand and Bihan states depend on the mica industry. Where the population there lives below the poverty line, because the wages they get for workers are not enough to meet their daily needs, especially child labor, sometimes they are not given wages, even though they are given wages that are not commensurate with the dangers they face and the working hours. they live it.
Even though the states of Jharkand and Bihar have abundant natural resources, namely mica, they are among the poorest states in India. There are a lot of child workers there who have to work in narrow tunnels to get mica. In this case, it is of course easier for children to find it because they have smaller bodies compared to adults. Seeing the benefits of these children makes parents involve them in helping with their work, by doing this work the children are given wages in the hope that it can help meet their needs.
By carrying out this work, of course there are health and safety hazards that threaten it. These children work digging tunnels using their hands without the help of tools, in this activity of course they can get skin infections. Apart from these threats, there are many other threats such as respiratory problems, snake bites, scorpion stings, malaria, suffering from broken bones, and tunnels that could collapse at any time. Every day these children spend time in mines which means they do not receive the education they should receive.
Many of them are illiterate, while their parents consider that school is a useless activity and does not make money. The Indian government itself has regulated child labor regulations. Meanwhile, regarding the large number of illegal mica mines there, the government has limited the opening of mica mines, this aims to reduce the level of deforestation. Even though these regulations have been established, the number of illegal mines there is too large, which makes it difficult for the government to enforce these regulations, so in the end the government does not pay attention to this case.
When a child worker dies due to an accident in the mine, the parents and doctors there will cover up the case, whereas if the law enforcers know about the case they will help cover it up as long as they get hush money, because if the case is revealed then The mica mine will be closed and the workers there will lose their jobs. Looking at this phenomenon or problem, what can be done is to open childcare centers and open schools, so that parents who work in mica mines can leave their children there.
Apart from that, these children have a reason not to work in the mines because focus on school. In overcoming this problem, it does not mean that we have to boycott products containing mica as a mixture or close the mica mines, because if this is done it can eliminate the livelihood of the people there while they live on the poverty line and are confused about having to look for other work. Apart from this, donations can be made so that later the money from the donation can be used to meet their daily needs.
By: Dzakiyya Maulida
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