Today, one, if not the most, significant exporter of Mica is India. This is rather surprising if we consider the fact that Mica mining has been banned under the legislation of the Forest Conservation Act since the 1980s (Singh, 2019). Yet, it is no secret that these mining practices remain prevalent and have even grown since then. In fact, about 75% of India’s mica mining is illegal and concentrated in the rural area of Jharkhand, where poverty is extremely prominent. This begs me to question, if law is unable to stop and protect communities involved in these illegal practices, what can?
(Source:https://www.nbcnews.com/news/all/army-children-toil-african-mica-mines-n1082916)
Why legislation failed
The simple answer would be corruption.
While many initiatives have emerged since the legislation to monitor these mining practices, certifications act as easy bypasses for companies to skip verification processes to ensure that their mining remains lawful and up to standards (Lebsack, 2019). Additionally, many Mica production companies are owned by underground, extensive mafias that may pose threats to the surrounding communities if their mining practices are obstructed. In scenarios such as this, it is truly a sticky situation.
Additionally, the implications of stopping these mines are not so simple.
As mentioned, Jharkhand remains one of the poorest regions in India. Therefore, it is highly common for children to work in these dangerous mica mines in order to provide additional income for their families (Rybarczyk, 2021). If these mining practices are ceased, it means that impoverished communities that rely on Mica mining as their sole source of livelihood will be forced further into poverty (Lebsack, 2019).
My Personal Take
While I do not claim to have a direct solution to this problem, I do think it is useful to consider how we can possibly avoid the situation from worsening. Campaigns such as the Responsible Mica Initiative have managed to kickstart some form of change to support child rights and advocates to enforce ethical implications on Mica mining. However, in my opinion, such efforts are not sufficient.
I believe that in order for Mica mining to truly be safe and sustainable for both environment and humans alike, consumers are an essential stakeholder to spark actionable standards that companies have to follow. Ultimately, if we do not purchase Mica products, lower demand would de-incentivise companies to reduce their Mica production significantly. Then, the participation of NGOs is critical to double-down on companies by demanding transparency of supply chain information. As for the economic issue of communities involved, efforts are to be delegated to educating these children and also ensuring they are rehabilitated into new sources of livelihood.
Yes, I am a little of an idealist and my solutions may seem too unrealistic at the moment. However, I hope that by reading this post, you may be reminded that as consumers, we have power to make changes despite how far away the problem seems. So for a starter, let’s stop purchasing Mica products!
If you have any opinions regarding how such situations can be targeted, I would love to have a discussion with you as well! Otherwise, thanks for tuning in :)
Hui Jie
References
Bhalla, N. (2016, August 8). Exclusive: Indian state to crush 'mica mafia' by legalizing mines to stop child worker deaths. Reuters. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-mica-children-idUSKCN10J1M0.
Chia, L. (2021, May 22). Make-up’s ugly secret: The plight of India’s poor miners behind the beauty industry. CNA. Retrieved from https://www.channelnewsasia.com/cnainsider/make-up-ugly-secret-plight-india-mica-miners-beauty-industry-1392471.
Lebsack, L. (2019, May 4). The Makeup Industry’s Darkest Secret Is Hiding In Your Makeup Bag. Refinery 29. Retrieved from https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2019/05/229746/mica-in-makeup-mining-child-labor-india-controversy.
Ryabarczyk, K. (2021). Child Labour in Mica Mines: The Beauty Industry’s Dark Secret. Fair Planet. https://www.fairplanet.org/story/child-labour-in-mica-mines-the-beauty-industry%E2%80%99s-dark-secret
Singh, G. (2019). Mica scavenging in Jharkhand destroys lives and environment. Mongabay-India. Retrieved 17 Feb 2022, from