BLACK STONE QUARRIES OF JHARKHAND AND WEST BENGAL
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Black Stone is in use since early age Idols of Gods and Goddess carved
in black stone since in early historic time in India. There are many
such Idols can be seen in present time which were carved in early
mediaeval period, mainly in Pal period.
Presently use of black stone became more important. Making mortar for
building and stone chips for metalled road is used in increasing
manner. In eastern India these stone chips are supplied mainly from
some districts of West Bengal like Purulia, Bankura and Birbhum and
some northern districts of Jharkhand namely Dumka, Pakur and Sahebganj.
These quarries are very small. Their production is from 20 to 200 tons
a day and labours required for these quarries vary from 20 to 28.
In these districts one geographical feature is common, i.e. the land is
arid, agriculture is scanty and these areas once were covered by dense
jungle. Due to unplanned deforestation top soil has been destroyed.
Underground water level is down below 120 to 350 ft. digging a well is
too much costly and deep tube well is almost out of question as people
live here are very much poor. Rainfall is minimum in these areas.
Besides agricultural work, which is as said earlier, scanty, people
have to depend on these quarries for their earning. The quarry owners
are not rich businessmen, especially in Bankura and Purulia of West
Bengal. There are at least some owners who were previously labours of
such quarries. Almost 90% people of these areas belong to scheduled
tribe community, namely Santals, Kurmi, Ho, Oraon, Munda and Scheduled
caste like Bagdi. Initially these people were dependent on forests.
Basically they were forest people since early human history.
Destruction of forest forced them to become labourers of these quarries
and in agricultural field of other fertile districts like Barddhaman,
Nadia, Hooghly, Howrah, Birbhum, Murshidabad etc. So one thing can be
seen in these quarries of Bankura and Purulia that these quarries run
for 6 to 7 months a year as in rainy season and in winter no labour is
available for these quarries. They go to do agricultural work in
neighboring districts.
It is commonly believed that women are not fit for mining works. But in
these quarries women labours participate in quarry works with their
male counter parts. In a quarry ratio of men : women labour is 60 : 40.
No. of quarries run in Dumka district is 191 (out of those quarries 90
are functional) and number of adjoining crushers is 52. Revenue earned
by Government from these quarries is 24.359 million rupees in a year.
In Pakur number of quarries 528 (out of which 350 are working) and
crushers depends on these quarries numbering 425. Revenue earned from
these quarries and crushers is 82.591 million rupees a year. In
Sahebganj districts number of quarries functioning is around 250.
In districts like Bankura and Purulia of West Bengal these quarries are
much smaller in size and in production. Only quarries of Birbhum
district tally with Dumka because the geological belt of Birbhum, Dumka
and Pakur is same.
1. NUMBER OF MINES IN YOUR AREA / REGION / COUNTRY
This study is basically made on black stone quarries of two eastern
states, Jharkhand and West Bengal. Number of these quarries is given in
table no.1.
TABLE 1
Country State District No. of Mines
India West Bengal Birbhum 121
Bankura 35
Purulia 41
Jharkhand Dumka 191
Pakur 350
Sahebganj 250
1.1 What is ASM (definition in Your Country, Region)
The mines which posses not more than 35 people as labourers and
officials and produce not more than 300 ton a day and area of the mine
not more than 2 acres is defined as small mines by the Directorate of
Mines Safety, of Govt. of India.
1.2 ASM Sector Units studied
Small quarries of Jhalda block of district Purulia, Saltora block of
district Bankura and Makrapahari area of district Birbhun of the state
West Bengal and Sarasdanga and Sikaripara of Dumka district of
Jharkhand are studied for this purpose.
1.3 Structure of the Industry Concerned
In these quarries no. of persons engaged is like the following
a) Drill man – 1
b) Mate – 1
c) Manager – 1
d) Bluster – 1
e) Loading labour (both male and female) – 10
f) Breaking stone (from bolder of 30 to 45 in dia length to ‘cheli’
of 12 to 18 cm. In length) – 10
g) Cleaning labour (mainly female) – 8
1.4 ASM Standing/Advisory/Controlling Body
Only in Saltora block of district Bankura has a common body of
operation which looks after Government transactions and other legal
matters called ‘Miners and Crushers Association’. In other
districts there is miners association. But those associations are not
that effective like the association of Bankura.
1.5 Local Context : Physical Extent of the Area, Administrative Units
In Jharkhand the land for digging mines is leased by the Block
Development Officer (hereinafter BDO) but license for mining is given
by District Mining Officer (hereinafter DMO) and the safety measures
should taken by a mine is controlled by Directorate of Mines Safety
(hereinafter DGMS) of the district. Annual revenue is given to DMO.
In West Bengal land is leased by the BDO and revenue is also collected
by his office. Only mining permit is given by DMO.
1.6 Previous Estimates by Others
No such estimates found for the area studied.
1.7 Your Estimates
In Dumka district almost 6000 people are engaged in 191 black stone
quarries. Revenue earned by the Govt. in the year 2001 – 2002 is
Rupees 17.793 million., In 2002 – 2003 it was Rupees 21.352 million
and 2003 – 2004 it was Rupees 24.359 million.
In district Pakur 11000 people engaged in 350 quarries. Revenue earned
by the Govt. in the year 2002 – 2003 it was Rupees 80.115 million and
2003 – 2004 it was Rupees 82.591 million.
8000 people are engaged in 250 quarries of Sahebganj district. Revenue
earned by the Govt. 2003 – 2004 is Rupees 21.759 million.
2. ORIGINS/TRADITIONS
Table 2 : Sectoral real groth rates in GDP (at factor cost)
Percentage change over the previous year
1999- 2000 2000 - 2001 2001 - 2002
(P) 2002 - 2003
(Q) 2003 - 2004
(A)
ITEMS
I Agricultural and Allied 0.3 -0.1 6.5 -5.2 9.1
II Industry 4.8 6.5 3.4 6.4 6.5
1. Mines and Quarrying 3.3 2.4 2.2 8.8 4.0
2. Manufacturing 4.0 7.4 3.6 6.2 7.1
3. Electricity Gas and Water Supply 5.2 4.3 3.6 3.8 5.4
4. Construction 8.0 6.7 3.1 7.3 6.0
III Services 10.1 5.5 6.8 7.1 8.4
5. Trade, Hotels, Transport & Communication 8.5 6.8 8.7 7.0 10.9
6. Financial Services 10.6 3.5 4.5 8.8 6.4
7. Community, Social & Personal Services 12.2 5.2 5.6 5.8 5.9
IV Total GDP at factor cost 6.1 4.4 5.8 4.0 8.1
A : Advance Estimates; Q : Quick Estimates P : Provisional
Estimates
Source : Central Statistical Oroganisation, Govt. of India
2.1 Local Economic Traditions
Districts like Bankura and Birbhum of West Bengal are basically
dependant on Agriculture. Industry and Mining is not prevalent in these
districts. The following table would clear up the picture.
TABLE 3
Number of small scale industrial units Registered with the Directorate
of Cottage and small scale
industries with corresponding employment in the District Bankura &
Birbhum, West Bengal
2001 2001 - 2002 2002 - 2003 (R) 2003 - 2004 (P)
Unit Employment Unit Employment Unit Employment Unit Employment
Bankura 358 1954 308 487 588 2482 373 2444
Purulia 212 1296 239 1094 367 2372 278 2035
P : Provisional; R : Revised
Source : Directorate of Cottage and small scale industries, Govt. of
West Bengal
TABLE 4.1
Some Classification of Land utilization statistics
in the District of Bankura (in 1000 hectares)
Year Total area
according to
DLR Forest according
to State Forest
Dept. Current Fallow Other fallow
land other than
current fallow Cropped area
1999 - 2000 688.10 148.35 32.29 4.50 349.59
2000 - 2001 688.10 148.35 62.14 2.35 344.06
2001 - 2002 688.10 148.35 34.01 3.50 383.33
2002 - 2003 688.10 147.29 45.35 1.39 357.14
Source : Directorate of agricultural, Govt. of West Bengal
TABLE 4.2
Some Classification of Land utilisation statistics
in the District of Birbhum (in 1000 hectares)
Year Total area
according to
DLR Forest according
to State Forest
Dept. Current Fallow Other fallow
land other than
current fallow Cropped area
1999 - 2000 452.07 15.05 2.02 2.91 330.62
2000 - 2001 451.12 16.03 6.54 2.57 337.53
2001 - 2002 451.12 16.03 19.21 2.47 320.32
2002 - 2003 451.12 15.85 14.55 1.56 326.85
Source : Directorate of agricultural, Govt. of West Bengal
In Jharkhand districts like Pakur, Sahebganj and Dumka rural
electrification is most minimum. The quarry areas are completely devoid
of electricity. In quarries and in crushers of these area power is
supplied by diesel generators.
2.2 Present Power Structures
TABLE – 5
Mouzas Electrified in the District Birbhum & Bankura (Number)
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
Birbhum 2219 2228 2230 2225 2225
Bankura 1699 1710 1730 1768 1816
Source : Bureau of Allied Economic and Statistics, Govt. of West
Bengal.
At least in last two decades electrification in the rural areas of the
state West Bengal has been increased remarkably.
3 Location and Distribution
West Bengal :
In Bankura district the black stone quarries are distributed in
Bankura sadar block, Saltora, Sarenga and Mejia blocks.
In Birbhum these are distributed in blocks Nalhati and Rampurhat
Jharkhand :
In Dumka district the black stone quarries are distributed mainly in
Sikaripara block.
4 Growth
4.1 Introduction: History
History of black stone mining is as old as civilization in Dumka and
Pakur area of present day’s Jharkhand.
In West Bengal Saltora of Bankura district history of black stone
mining is old like Pakur but the quality of black stone is inferior and
contains silica.
Actually the Rampurhat area of Birbhum, Sikaripara area of Dumka and
Pakur has the same black stone belt. The quality of stone is almost
same everywhere except the Barpahari deposit of Birbhum, which is the
best in quality.
4.2 Reserves of the Resource
All the areas mentioned above of the state West Bengal and Jharkhand
black stone deposit if enormous. Quarrying in these areas is facing
difficulty for many reasons. Lack of uniformity in implication of
Govt. rules is different in different regions. As in the case of
Bankura districts small quarry owners whose size of quarry is not more
than two acres are constrained of using explosives. Transportation is
difficult in almost everywhere due to lack of roadways. Except in
Birbhum power supply is absent everywhere.
4.3 Other Resources Outside Mining Areas
In Dumka of Jharkhand there are fire clay deposits and a small amount
of coal deposit are found apart from black stone.
In Bankura other than black stone some red and white marble is also
found. In rest other districts of the two states mentioned above are
mainly dependent on black stone mining
4.4 Potential Supply Constraints on ASM/Informal Mining
In Jharkhand there is little agricultural practice due to shortage of
cultivable land. So availability of labour is not a problem. But in
West Bengal agriculture is the main practice. So in rainy and in
harvesting seasons no labour is available for mining. As mentioned
earlier except in Birbhum power is a problem. Apart from these supply
of drinking water is insufficient. In Jharkhand drinking water is a
constant problem especially in summer months. So water borne disease is
common in these area. Telecommunication and maintenance of roadways is
totally lacking everywhere.
In Jharkhand local politics like influence of Naxalite force inhibiting
the mining. In some cases interference of local authority in appointing
minor labour is also hindering the as well as it is causing starvation
to the poor village people.
In the quarries ofWest Bengal labour trade unions inhibiting the
introduction of mechanization which is causing lesser production.
GROWTH FACTORS :
5.1 Governance Factors
5.1.1 Legal Environment
Except in Birbhum district existence of organized trade union movement
is totally absent in other districts of Jharkhand and West Bengal. The
role of trade unions in Birbhum district is not constructive for the
labours as well as for the industry. Till now they are resisting
introduction of mechanization which could have increase rate of
production as well as increase in labour requirement.
5.1.2 Administrative Constraints
Permission for mining is not controlled by a single authority. This is
controlled by:
1) District Mining Officer (hereinafter DMO),
2) Directorate of Mines Safety (hereinafter DGMS),
3) District Magistrate or District Collector, locally by the Block
level Officer on behalf of him,
4) District Land and Land Reforms Officer,
5) State Pollution Control Board,
6) District Forest Officer,
This causes much problem to get a new license to establish a new
quarry.
In Bankura another problem is faced by the small quarry owners whose
leased area is not more than 2.5 acres. They don’t get explosive
license. And it is next to impossible to dig through basalt and granite
deposits without use of dynamite.
In Dumka and Pakur districts of Jharkhand, administrative pressure
towards prevention of employing child labour causing closure to many
mines. This is a problem to the labour also. There are many families
where father is dead and mother can not go out for external works.
These families are forced to send their minors for physical labour so
that they can earn some bread for his or her family.
5.2 Socio-economic Factors
5.2.1 Socio-economic Environment
In both states black stone quarries run in remote places. These places
were covered by dense jungle even some decades earlier. People live in
these area are mostly tribal Santal, Munda, Ho and of such other
community. Basically these people were dependent on the surrounding
forests. Deforestation caused total socio – economic changed to these
communities. They are now the contract labours for agriculture to some
distant places or they are the labours of such quarries and stone
crushers.
5.2.2 Shortage of Other Rural Income Opportunities
Still now there is limited forest in these areas and these people
depend partially on the woods for supply of fuel for their own use as
well as for the local market. In West Bengal the quarry labours are not
completely dependent on these quarries and stone crushes. Some of them
have little quantity of land to cultivate and the rest other can do
some agricultural work.
In northern Jharkhand districts like Sahebganj, Pakur and Dumka are
totally barren. Only 10.2% of land is cultivable yet there is no
irrigation. So if there is good rain fall in a year only one kind of
crop can be grown. So these people are totally dependent on these
quarries and stone crushers.
5.2.3 Desire for Higher Education
Literacy rate in these districts of Jharkhand and West Bengal was very
poor. Recent steps taken by the Central Govt. which is compulsorily
followed by the State Govt. as well as the local self Govt. increased
literacy rate in West Bengal the literacy rate is much higher than the
rate of Jharkhand. In Bankura and Purulia districts of West Bengal
almost all the boys and girls under the age of 15 have attended at
least the primary education. 60% of them continued up to 7 or 8
standard. 50% completed secondary education. Higher education up to
graduate level is taken only by 8% in Bankura and 13% in Birbhum.
In northern Jharkhand districts children of these tribal people are
attending primary education but less than 5% is continuing up to
secondary level. Though in these areas Christian Missionary works are
running for a long time and almost in every village there is a primary
school established besides establishing a church. Intermediate college
is very small in number and Degree College is far less.
5.3 Mining Sector Factors
5.3.1 Small Resource Deposits Ignored by Big Mining
Black stone mining is completely ignored by big companies. Only in
Saltora area of Bankura there is a single quarry started two years back
by a big company to supply stones to construct the new four lanes
National Highway. This quarry is now closed as the requirement is
fulfilled. Black stone is required for civil works only. So there is no
constant demand by the big companies. Single individuals and small
contractors are the only customers of these quarries. So big mining in
this filled is not possible.
5.3.2 Resource Losses due to Mining Operations
Mining areas for black stone in both these states are totally barren so
no cultivable land is misused in this way. Only thing possible in this
area is forestation. This has been started in some parts of Bankura
district by the forest department. But rest of the places is still
ignored.
6. SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS
6.1 Who are the Miners?
6.1.1 Introduction to the Miners
In Bankura miners are mostly from middle class society. There are some
miners here who previously ware labours to a mine. No where in other
districts black stone mining is operated by big businessmen except two
business houses, one at Pakur and another is at Barpahari.
6.1.2 Previous Employment of Males
All the miners in five districts of these two states are males. No
female is still interested to get involved in a seasonal business like
black stone mining. Secondarily black stone mining is dependent
completely on the stone crushers. If the minor has no provision to
establish a crusher adjacent to his quarry, he is quite helpless in
this business as is happening in the quarries of Bankura.
6.1.3 Classification of Miners by Age
Age of the miners ranges from 25 – 45 years. Only two or three
persons found who are continuing mining in the age of 50 and above.
Rest others left the business or shifted it to become a crusher owner.
6.2 Categories of Miners
6.2.1 Actively Involved in Alternative Occupations (farming,
herding…)
Almost all the miners are involved in alternative professions. Most of
them are involved in farming. Rest others are either has some small
business. Very little miners has no secondary source of income.
6.2.2 Formerly Involved in Alternative Occupations
Most of the miners started their profession with this mining but there
are some who previously ware engaged in some other kind of business or
service to some private sectors.
6.3 Socio-economic Influences
In all these five districts these miners are paying maximum of the
Govt. royalty. Except agricultural sector of West Bengal the stone
quarries are controlling the next highest economic growth of the
region. They are the most effective employers in these localities and
yet they are the least observed community by Govt. sectors.
Telecommunication is out of question in every where in the districts of
northern Jharkhand. Power supply is also absent. Only diesel generators
are the source of power supply but supply of diesel is not good and not
could be available locally. Marketing is also a problem as the
condition of the roads connecting these quarries is real bad.
7. GENDER CONCERNS
7.1 Women’s Work Participation: History of Region/Country
Female participation in the workforce varies across rural – urban
areas. According to the 58th round (July to December 2004) survey of
NSSO, the female workforce participation rate in rural areas declined
to 281 per thousand compared to 299 in the 55th round (July 1999 –
2000). In urban areas, it increased marginally from 139 to 140. In
rural areas, 85% of women works are engaged primarily in agricultural
activity and related sectors such as animal husbandry. In urban areas,
a significant proportion of women workers are employed in the
unorganized sectors such as household industries, petty trade and
services and building and construction activities.
According to National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP)
study on gender budgeting, the average female wage is almost 80% of
male average in urban areas, while it is less than 60% of the
corresponding male rate in rural areas.
7.2 Gender Roles
7.2.1 Overview: Traditional Gender Roles in the Region/Country
All the area under this survey the labours are mostly from Santal
community where women share equal role in home and in society with
their male counterparts. In these quarries and crushers involvement of
female is almost equal. It can be seen in a quarry the ratio of male is
to female is 60: 40 and in a crusher it is 40: 60. Only the breaking of
boulder is done by males and of course is blasting.
7.2.2 Recent Changes in Gender Roles
Two major changes have been marked in the family/ social custom. One
is, some women workers shifted their household works like cooking,
attending children and older members of the family to her husband and
where husband also work outside, to her son. The second change is more
interesting. Santals have a permissive society. Boys and girls mix
freely before their marriage. But they hate a ‘Diku’ (means a
foreigner or outsider). Marriage is strictly within their society.
Presently it is seen in Bankura that boys of that community desire to
maintain four to five girl friends to maintain their status amongst
their friends. On the other hand, girls of that society is not at all
interest to mix up with the boys of their own community, rather they
are interest to get intimate with a civilized boy of other community.
7.2.3 Family-Kin Networks
These Santal and Bagdi community of the surveyed area are normally live
in closely knit families. As these quarries are small ones and they
don’t have the necessity to keep the labours adjacent to the quarry,
no major change in family structure has been noticed. But interesting
enough, the least percentage of educated members of the society is not
interested to keep in touch with their family or with the society. They
are leaving for a consumerism oriented life to a city nearby. But hat
percentage of educated people is very low.
7.2.4 Women’s Needs
Still now these communities are not dependent on modern day scientific
treatment for child birth and infantile mortality rate is still very
low among them. Yet many water borne diseases are prevalent in these
areas. Supply of drinking water is absent. They are totally dependent
somewhere on a single well attributed to three or four villages or,
they are dependent on some pool or sterns. In summer days these streams
and pools dried up and they are forced to drink any kind of water they
could collect.
Health service is completely lacking. Sometimes there is a block level
hospital or sub-health center in some 15 – 20 kilometers away, but
most of the time a doctor could not be found there and never medicine
could be available in those hospitals. In summer time many people die
mostly of malaria, encephalitis and enteric diseases.
7.3 Gender Roles in Mining and Processing
7.3.1 Division of Labour in Mining
Unlike mining in organized sectors, these stone quarries are small and
women are not hindered to take part from any job of mining except
breaking boulders. Yet in one or two places it has been observed that
older women, above the age of 30, breaking stone. There is no hindrance
on behalf of the quarry owner or manager or mate, but habitually they
don’t do it or, their kin forbid it if they are carrying child.
Normally in this kind of mining work out 28 labours there may be 10 –
13 female workers.
7.3.2 Division of Labour in Processing
In cleaning operations and in crushers women are in greater number. It
is seen that women labour take rest less frequently so they can do more
work than her male counterpart. So in these jobs out of 30 or 35
labours there are 20 – 25 females.
7.3.3 Division of Labour in Transportation
Loading of stones, be it boulder or chip, is completely done by the
female, if they are available, for the above said reason.
7.3.4 Division of Labour at Home
Normally household works like fetching water, collecting fuel wood and
cooking is done by the women. But it is not uncommon that male are
doing these jobs when his wife or sister or sister – in – law or
mother is out at work. Especially in Santal community division of
labour is almost equal between husband and wife. If they are engaged in
agricultural work, they work together. Same applies for maintenance of
live stock.
7.4 Wages
7.4.1 Wages in Other Activities
In agricultural work labour are paid daily wages which varies from
Rs.50 to Rs.60 a day from place to place. Both males and females are
paid same amount.
Those to collect wood from forest to sale it as fuel in local market
can earn maximum of Rs.30 a day
7.4.2 Wages in ASM/Informal Mining
In quarries labours are paid according to their amount of work that is
in contract basis. Normally breaking boulders in a mine, Rs.21 to Rs.25
is paid per 150 cubic feet of stone. One labour generally earns Rs.75
in a average in a day.
Carrying 150 cubic feet of stone earns Rs.15 to Rs.20. A labour
carrying stone generally earns Rs.45 to Rs.80 a day.
7.4.3 Women’s Views on Wages
There is no difference between male and female so far payment is
concerned in these quarries. Normally if it is taken earning per month
by a person, Women earned at per or higher that their male counter pats
as they don’t take frequent leaves.
7.5 Working conditions
7.5.1 Provision of toilets, creches
No where in these quarries and crushers arrangement for toilets has
been observed. Supply of drinking water is also lacking. As number of
labours vary from 20 – 35 in a quarry so no arrangement for crèche
is possible. What is causing maximum damage to the children or working
parents is they are inflicted by silicosis or other lung diseases
caused by stone dust as they play openly.
7.5.2 Sexual harassment
There are stray incidents of sexual harassments to the women workers.
But most of the incidents can not be termed as rape as these kind
incidents happen with understanding of both sides. But there are some
cases where the male partner denied to marry the girl when she is
conceived.
7.5.3 Women’s Perceptions of Sexual Harassment
Mostly women workers take such kind of sexual harassments as
professional hazards but there are cases when extra marital affairs
take place with the consent of both he partners or if it is premarital
one from both the sides, this generally terminates in marriage if both
the boy and girl are from same community.
8. CHILD LABOUR ISSUES
8.1 Introduction
8.1.1 Overview
The areas under survey are populated mainly by the tribal people. In
their society boys and girls used to take part in the labourious works
when they are of 14 or 15 years of age including hunting, cultivation
or even other outside works including serve as labours in these mines.
Almost in every mine there are 3 – 5 percent of such kind of labours
who are below 18. Most of them dropped from school in urge of earning.
In some places, like Dumka at present, Govt. authority trying to
interfere in this kind of employment of child labours. But those
authorities are not thinking about their need to earn for themselves as
well as for their family. There are some cases where these boys and
girls either lost their father, who was the earning member of the
family or, they have lost both the parents. In such cases these boys
and girls are forced to earn something for their existence.
8.1.2 Opinion of Parents
Normally, at least at present, parents are interest to send their
children for study and don’t encourage doing physical works for
earning, if both the parents are engaged. Where the father is dead,
mother is compelled to send her boy or girl for earning if she has got
to look after babies.
8.2 Child Labour and Child Rights in the Region/Country
8.2.1 Differences in Different Situations
Normally the country law forbids employing labour who is under 18 years
of age. But in practice it is followed by the local authority that no
boy or girl should be employed who is under 15 years of age. At least
in eastern India this is the practice.
8.2.2 Impacts of Mining upon Children
If the area is somewhat developed like Bankura or Birbhun of West
Bengal, introduction of cable TV influencing the local people as well
as the children towards consumerism. This is not observed in backward
areas in Jharkhand like Sahebganj, Dumka or Pakur.
8.2.3 Children in Mining Settlements
Normally there is no mining settlements in this field, as it is said
earlier that these are very small mines and no organized and trained
labour is required in these mines.
9. LABOUR PROTECTION, HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES
9.1 Labour Protection
9.1.1 Initiatives
In both the states safety in a mines is looked after by the DGMS and
the department officials observe a mines safety week in every year.
Besides that they train the bluster and other mine workers against
possible disaster form time to time. In West Bengal explosive license
to the quarries under 2.5 acres.
9.1.2 Labour Protection in Mining
Bluster’s shed is seen everywhere but it is seldom used by the
workers. Helmet, blasting glass is used by the labours who work
directly in the blasting area.
9.1.3 Labour Protection in Processing
There are some rules imposed by the pollution control board of the
state Govt. concerned but there is no implication of these rules.
In a stone crusher it is directed by the pollution law that the area
should be covered completely and the stones and stone chips should be
watered in every phase of crushing and separation to avoid release of
stone dust, which may cause silicosis and other lung diseases to the
workers. But in practice no such protection can be seen.
9.2 Working Conditions
9.2.1 Opinions of Miners on Working Conditions
Most of the miners are not rich persons and their mine is also small,
that is within 2.5 acres, and don’t have the usual labour structure
of the big mine. Their structure is like :
Mine owner
Manager (mostly not applicable)
Mate
Working labours
They don’t even have the output quantity from their mine (s) by which
they can follow the strictures imposed by different authorities.
In Jharkhand drinking is a problem so it is quite necessary to dig up
tube well near the quarry but the water level is very deep in those
area and digging up a tube well costs around 1.5 hundred thousand
rupees which most of the mine owners can not provide.
In that state health service is poor so some of the quarry owners
appointed the own doctor but availability of medicine is a problem
because of the distance of a near by town is from 30 60 kilometers and
transportation is very poor.
9.2.2 Labour Pressure
There is no organized pressure from the labours in Bankura. In Birbhum
and in the northern districts of Jharkhand there is organized labour
unions but they are not interest to look after these essentials.
Everywhere no NGO is working amongst these labours for their education,
health and other developments.
9.2.3 Mining Season
These mines are seasonal depending on the availability of labours.
These are run January to June and again from October to November.
Labours work here generally go out to do agriculture work in other
districts during July – August and November – December.
9.2.4 Working Hours
There is actually no fixed working hours in these quarries and stone
crushers. As the labour work in contact, they used to start work at
7.00 hours in summer months and work up to 5.00 or 5.30 hours, but in
winter months they work from 9.00 to 4.00 hours. They usually take a
break for lunch at noon (at around 1.00 p.m.) for 1 to 1.5 hours.
9.3 Health and Safety
9.3.1 Opinions of Miners on Health Conditions
Every where health is major concern both from the miners and from
labours point of view. There is no health service available in the
remote places where mining is carried out.
10. SETTLEMENTS AND HOUSING OF MINERS
10.1 Housing
10.1.1 Established Settlements – Commuters
In both the states labours come from surrounding area of the mine
within a distance of 5 to 7 kilometers. In most cases labours come by
bus from their village to working place or some of them come by bicycle
or by foot. They are daily commuters and don’t try to established a
new home near their work place.
10.1.2 Established Settlements – Process Workers
No such settlement is required by the labours or made by the owner as
village of the labours is within an hours journey.
10.1.3 Specific characters of Housing: Owner
The tribal people of eastern India live in clay houses covered by straw
of paddy or by terracotta plates. All the houses are coloured by
different natural colours obtained form soil. The walls are again
decorated ornamentally by white and red colours. These people are neat
in character and they keep their habitation clean.
11. METHODS AND EQUIPMENT
11.1 Tasks
11.1.1 Mining Tasks
In Barpahari of Birbhum and in Saltora of Bankura mines are sub-soil.
In rest other places mines superficial and no more than 10 feet of
begin if necessary. Basalt or granite deposits are drilled and blasted
by dynamite sticks. Where the mines are sub soil, deposits are found
from 6 to 20 meters depth from the surface.
11.1.2 Processing Tasks
Blasted stones or boulders are broken in to 10 to 20 centimeters pieces
by hammers which are called ‘cheli’ and used in crushers. From a
mine boulders supplied to a crusher in the sizes ranging from 30 to 50
centimeters in diameter.
12. Equipment
12.1.1 Mining Equipment
In very mall quarries only equipment used is electric drill. I a larger
quarry there is earth cutters, compressors, drills and dumpers used to
dig out stones and delivery to the crusher.
12.1.2 Processing Equipment
Processing is not necessary in case of black stone mining.
13. Method – Transport
Transportation is done in a small quarry by normal trucks even by
tractors. But in medium and bigger mines delivery is done by dumpers.
14. Methods and Equipment in One or Two Case Study Village(s)
In Murlu village near Saltora of Bankura district there is quarry
stated this year by a young man of 26 years of age. It is operating in
a area of 1.5 acres. It hasn’t got the license to use explosive and
the owner started the mine taking bank loan. He has no provision to
establish a crusher and to keep at least one truck for delivery. So the
owner is using explosive illegally and his maximum production in a day
is 7 to 10 ton which is causing difficulty to the owner to repay his
bank loan.
He has no manager to run the quarry. He personally knows all his
labours as he appointed them by himself. His labours, though work in
contract, are the same this day as they ware from the beginning. Number
of labours working here is 28.
But in another case, that in Barpahari of Birbhum – Rampurhat border,
there is a big quarry running for last 15 years by ‘Bhagawan Das
mining company’. It has its own stone crusher adjoining to the
quarry. There are 68 labours working in this mine and crusher. There is
a manager who controls the appointments of the mates of the quarry and
of the crusher. He makes payment to the mates for the labours on behalf
of the owner. Mate there appoints the labours.
15. INCOME AND FINANCIAL FLOWS
15.1 Income
15.1.1 Daily Income
Daily income varies from mine to mine depending on its production.
Normally quarry owners get Rs.150 per truck, that is, 4 ton of boulder
produced. So a small quarry owner earns Rs.1,200 a day where as a
bigger quarry owner as said in the second case earlier earns around
Rs.4,000 a day.
15.1.2 Monthly Income
Normally in seasons working day in a month varies from 20 to 25. So
earning for a small mine ranges from 20,000 to 30,000 a month, in case
of bigger quarry it ranges from 80,000 to 100,000 a month.
15.1.3 Annual Income
These quarries run for 6 to 8 months a year. So a small quarry earns
Rs.250,000 to Rs.350,000 and a owner of a bigger quarry earns
Rs.960,000 to Rs.1,200,000 a year.
16. LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES
16.1 Law and Order and Human Rights
16.1.1 Law and Order
In Barpahari area of Birbhum and in Pakur area of Jharkhand there are
many big quarries run in a single block where total number of labours
is nearly a thousand. In these area law and order problems sometimes
break out but the frequency is low and no big crime is reported to the
police in last two years. In other areas the quarry a small and labour
working there are from same village or from neighbouing villages so
there is no mentionable law and order problems in this quarries.
16.1.2 Human Rights
The labours workings in these mines are deprived in many ways. Central,
State or local self Government overlooking to the facts of their need
for pure drinking water, transportation, facility of education, at
least secondary standard and minimum health service is not met with.
16.2 Overview of Legal Issues
16.2.1 Exploration Licenses
District Magistrate or District Collector, locally by the Block level
Officer on behalf of him,
16.2.2 Mining Licenses
District Mining Officer and Director General Mines Safety.
16.2.3 Central Government Measures to Legalise Informal Mining
Permission for mining is comparatively easy to collect from these
authorities if no objection is there from pollution control board and
forest department.
16.3.1 Conflict with Environmental Protection Laws of the Country
Quarries do not cause direct pollution of any kind to the nature except
disturbing the surface soil. But where there is basalt or granite stone
deposit even under 6 miters of soil, no agricultural work is possible
on that ground. Only forestation of some plants can be possible there.
16.3.2 Conflict with Water Laws of the Country
There is no direct connection of a stone quarry or a stone crusher to
the pollution of water of any kind.
Table 6: Sectoral employment groth (CDS basis)
Sector Employment (in million) Annual growth (%)
1983 1987-88 1993-94 1999-2000 1983 to
1987 - 1988 1987 - 1988
to
1993 - 1994 1983 to
1993 - 1994 1993 - 1994
to
1999 - 2000
Agriculture 151.35 163.82 190.72 190.94 1.77 2.57 2.23 0.02
Industry
Mining & Quarrying 1.74 2.4 2.54 2.26 7.35 1 3.68 -1.91
Manufacturing 27.69 32.53 35 40.79 3.64 1.23 2.26 2.58
Electricity, Gas and
Water supply 0.83 0.94 1.43 1.15 2.87 7.19 5.31 -3.55
Construction 7.17 11.98 11.02 14.95 12.08 -1.38 4.18 5.21
Services
Trade, hotels & restuarent 18.17 22.53 26.88 37.54 4.89 2.99 3.8 5.72
Transport, storage and
communication 6.99 8.05 9.88 13.65 3.21 3.46 3.35 5.53
Financial, insurance,
real estate and
business services 2.1 2.59 3.37 4.62 4.72 4.5 4.6 5.4
Community, social and
personal services 23.52 27.77 34.98 30.84 3.57 4.06 3.85 -2.08
All Sectors 239.57 272.39 315.84 336.75 2.89 2.5 2.67 1.07
Source : NSSO - differents rounds.
17. CONTACT LIST RESOURCE PERSONS AND GOVT. OFFICIALS.
1) Feku Ram, District mining officer, Dumka
2) Kamaleswari Das, District mining officer, Pakur
3) District mining officer, Bankura and Purulia
4) Ajay Kr. Hansraj, Dumka
5) Surendra Kr. Singh, Pakur
6) G.C. Dey, Forest Range Officer, Saltora, Bankura
7) Madhusudan Pal, Saltora, Bankura
8) Ujjal Chakraborty, Saltora, Bankura
9) Nilu Maji, Saltora, Bankura
10) Buddhadeb Maity, Saltora, Bankura
11) R. K. Kapoor, Barpahari, Birbhum
12) Imtiaz Rasul, Rampurhat
18. BIBLIOGRAPHY OF PAPERS AND REPORTS USED.
1) District Statistical Handbook, 2003, Pakur, Jharkhand
2) District Statistical Handbook, 2003, Dumka, Jharkhand
3) District Statistical Handbook, 2003, Sahebganj, Jharkhand
4) District Statistical Handbook, 2003, Bankura, West Bengal
5) District Statistical Handbook, 2003, Birbhum, West Bengal
6) Census report, Jharkhand, 2001
7) Statistics of mines in India, Volume II (non – coal) 2001
8) West Bengal Human Development Report, 2004
9) Economic Survey, 2003 – 2004, Govt. of India
10) Economic Review, 2003 – 2004, Statistical Appendix, Govt. of
West Bengal