1st Floor, 19/9-B, CHB Jodhpur-342008 (Rajasthan) INDIA
The Mine Labour Protection Campaign (MLPC) was founded to address the pressing challenges faced by mine workers in Rajasthan and beyond. The mining sector, particularly in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM), is fraught with issues such as unsafe working conditions, exploitation, and a lack of transparency. Workers often face health risks, wage insecurity, and limited access to social protection.
MLPC emerged as a response to these challenges, advocating for ethical mining practices, improved worker welfare, and sustainable livelihoods. By bridging the gap between policy, business, and community needs, MLPC ensures a future where mining communities thrive with dignity and security.
MLPC operates as a pro-market driven solutions facilitator, working across multiple fronts to enhance the well-being of mine workers and their communities. Our core activities include:
The Mine Labour Protection Campaign (MLPC) has a history rooted in addressing the problems faced by mine workers, with a focus on health and safety. MLPC's origins can be traced back to deliberations on mining-related problems in the Thar Desert, initially to understand environmental degradation and its effects. Following national, state, and regional seminars and workshops, the agenda shifted from environmental concerns to humane issues. Under the auspices of MLPC and other groups, the "Jodhpur Declaration" was made during the National Seminar on Mines and Mine Workers on April 16, 1993. This declaration highlighted the problems of mine workers and the struggle against dust-related health issues. A round-table discussion in Jaipur on September 8 and 9, 1994, further addressed issues such as law and mine workers, illegal mining, and mine workers' health, welfare, and safety. From its beginnings under the School of Desert Sciences until 2006, MLPC was later registered as a charitable trust in June 2007 under the Rajasthan Public Trust Act, 1959 and has been compliant with the regulations of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) since June 2011.
Significant milestones and achievements include the Rajasthan State Government Policy on Pneumoconiosis/Silicosis in 2019, which addresses silicosis as an occupational disease, aiming to provide diagnosis and compensation for victims. Furthermore, a government order in May 2022 notified the creation of a Mine Workers' Welfare Board to address occupational safety and welfare provisions for mine workers.
MLPC is dedicated to ensuring safe, dignified, and sustainable employment for mine workers. Rooted in the 1993 Jodhpur Declaration, MLPC has pioneered worker protection initiatives, including advocating for the Mine Labour Welfare Board and Pneumoconiosis Policy. The organization operates primarily in Rajasthan, bridging critical gaps in the mining supply chain by advocating for transparency, traceability, and accountability, ensuring compliance with ethical sourcing standards that meet the expectations of European buyers and global markets for responsible supply chains.
The mine worker's visibility in policy processes is affected by the division of regulatory oversight between state and central entities. Mining is a state subject, allowing each state to manage its mineral resources. However, the regulation of mine workers and their working conditions falls under the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS), which operates under the Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoLE), a central government body. This division creates a complex situation in which, while states control mining operations and related policies like the Minor Mineral Concession Rules (MMCR), the DGMS sets standards for safety, health, and vocational training in mines across the country. This leads to a lack of cohesive policy implementation, where state-level mining policies may not fully align with the labor and safety standards enforced by the DGMS. Moreover, given that environmental compliances add another layer of complexity to the regulatory framework, it almost implies a need to draw attention to the potential these commitments hold in driving responsible mining practices that are in line with global standards.
The differing jurisdictions tend to obscure the specific needs and concerns of mine workers in the policy process. MLPC seeks to address the challenges arising from differing jurisdictions by meaningfully engaging with mining businesses, workers, and community representatives to promote transparency and accountability in the mining sector. It strives to protect human rights and sustain business operations through dialogue and collaboration. MLPC helps establish consistent channels of civic engagement at the grassroots level through various activities: identifying volunteers from villages to engage people on issues such as health, education, and livelihoods; encouraging communities to mobilize for public hearings and mailing campaigns in consultation with district administrations; and taking individual and collective concerns to DMFT Council Meetings.
In line with promoting responsible mining, MLPC advocates for a shift towards cooperative models of mining operations and green businesses. These models aim to enhance worker participation, promote fair labor practices, and ensure that mining operations are conducted in an environmentally sustainable manner. Green businesses such as goat farming, solar-powered flour mills, and vermicompost development offer alternative livelihood opportunities for mine workers and their families, diversifying income streams and building resilience.
By engaging with international organizations like ICASM and participating in global forums, MLPC brings local issues to a broader audience, advocating for policies that protect the rights and livelihoods of mine workers on a global scale. Through these multifaceted efforts, MLPC strives to create a cohesive and supportive framework that transcends jurisdictional boundaries, ensuring the welfare of mine workers remains a central focus.
To ensure the dignity, safety, and livelihood security of mine workers by advocating for their well-being, providing health and financial assistance, and fostering sustainable development in mining communities.
To build a robust and conducive ecosystem where all stakeholders-workers, businesses, and policymakers-are committed to the welfare and empowerment of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) workers.
MLPC's work is anchored in the following core principles:
MLPC has been at the forefront of advocating for social justice in Rajasthan's sandstone mines, addressing issues of exploitation, hazardous working conditions, and the exclusion of mine workers from policy frameworks. Through targeted interventions, capacity building, and policy advocacy, MLPC has pushed for fair wages, occupational health safeguards, and social security for marginalized mine workers and their families, particularly silicosis-affected workers and widows. By leveraging District Mineral Foundation (DMF) funds, promoting responsible supply chains, and facilitating alternative livelihoods, MLPC has transformed grassroots struggles into systemic change, ensuring that the voices of vulnerable mining communities are heard in decision-making processes.
MLPC has been instrumental in promoting responsible practices in Rajasthan's sandstone mining sector, advocating for ethical business models that prioritize environmental sustainability, workers' rights, and transparency in the supply chain. By engaging with mining companies, policymakers, and global buyers, MLPC has fostered initiatives that encourage fair labor practices, occupational safety standards, and sustainable extraction methods. Through compliance monitoring, awareness campaigns, and collaboration with industry stakeholders, MLPC ensures that ethical sourcing and human rights due diligence become integral to the mining ecosystem, paving the way for a more accountable and socially responsible sandstone industry.
MLPC champions transparency and accountability in Rajasthan's sandstone mining sector, ensuring that mining practices are fair, ethical, and beneficial to all stakeholders. By advocating for open access to mining contracts, proper fund allocation from the District Mineral Foundation Trust (DMFT), and strict adherence to labor rights, MLPC works to eliminate corruption, exploitation, and regulatory loopholes. The organization collaborates with government bodies, industry leaders, and local communities to establish robust monitoring mechanisms, participatory decision-making, and responsible supply chain practices. Through civic engagements, policy advocacy, and grassroots mobilization, MLPC is driving a shift toward a more just and transparent mining ecosystem that prioritizes worker welfare and community development.