Violation of Human Rights in Coal Mining Areas of Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya

In the Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya large scale coal mining operation is going on since 1970. In these areas coal is extracted mainly by rat hole mining method. In the rat hole method large scale labours are employed in areas to carry out the mining operation. In doing so huge number of child labours are being engaged specially from Bangladesh and Nepal. These child specially in the age group of 10 - 14 years are brought from the neighboring countries. In these mining areas human rights are violated for these children’s - these children are being forced to work which is a violation of Article 23 of Indian constitution. They are being imported specially from adjoining countries as a traffic in human beings. Among child below the age of 14 years are also engaged for digging the coal. They work in a dangerous condition which is a type of exploitation and their normal human rights are violated.