Child Labour-Free Mica Mines in Jharkhand

NCPCR Declaration:

Announcement Date: July 5, 2024

Declared By: National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)

Area: Kodarma's mica mines in Jharkhand

Key Fact: NCPCR declared Kodarma's mica mines as 'Child Labour-Free', marking the first successful initiative to end child labour in mica mining in India.

Background on Mica Mining:

Mica is a shiny, non-metallic mineral used in industries like cosmetics, electronics, automobiles, and construction.

Mica is abundant in the Kodarma and Giridih districts of Jharkhand, with Kodarma once being known as India's mica capital or "mica city".

Child Labour in India:

In India, children below 14 years of age employed in laborious tasks are termed as child labourers. This initiative marks a significant step in eradicating child labour in the mica mining industry.