For 10 rupees, many children lost their lives while working in a poisonous mine, I am in 11th standard, but took them to school in 8 days

Children picking mica in the mines would risk their lives for Rs 10-15. Along with the parents, they also choose mica. It was sad to see all this. When talking to the parents of the children, they would refer to their livelihood. I didn't give up. Whenever I got time, I started teaching these children. Slowly he stopped choosing mica. Today these children go to school. 19-year-old Preeti Marandi shared these things with Bhaskar Woman.

Children also go to the mine after parents

Preeti says I am a resident of Chakai Rahima of Jamui district of Bihar. I have been teaching these children for the last one year. Earlier these children did not go to school. They used to go to the nearby mines to pick mica. Their parents were also engaged in the same work, so the children would also go back and forth to the mine.

first refused then got ready

Anso Marandi is from my village. When told to him, he flatly refused. Said that there is no money to teach them. If you choose Mica, some money comes. But when the other kids started going to school, she agreed too. Today their children are also going to school.

Don't worry about pencil-copy

So is Lalita Hansda's family. He has four children. The husband works as a laborer in Goa. He also had the same answer, there is no money to teach. The livelihood runs from Dhibri (Mica). I explained to them not to worry about copy, book, pencil. They just send the kids to school. Now these children are coming to the new primary school of the village itself. Rajesh sir is there. I teach children from 2 pm to 5 pm.

25 children leaving school leaving mica

Center Direct, TDH and Disha Bihar also contributed a lot in this work of mine. This is an NGO that helps in educating such children. Today 25 children are coming to school after leaving mica.

Mines are up to 50-60 feet deep

These mines are illegal. The government had already banned the removal of mica long ago. But even after this people take out mica. Digging deep pits. Sometimes they are more than 50-60 feet deep. There is always a fear of falling in them.

impact on children's health

Mica sheets are very sharp, hands and feet are also cut from them. Also, there is a problem of breathing inside the mine. This is not good for the health of the children. I understood this. Then I started explaining to the children and their parents.

A family earns two-and-a-half thousand a week

The whole family gathers to take out the mica. If there are husband and wife and two children in a family, then they choose 2.5 to three quintals of mica in a week. Agents of companies pay Rs 800 per quintal. In this way up to two and a half thousand rupees are earned. This is the reason why parents also involve their children in removing mica.

Accidents have happened many times

Giridih district of Jharkhand is adjacent to Chakai. In this district, mica is extracted illegally on a large scale, in which children are also involved. There were also reports of children dying in the mines several times. Then I started explaining to the parents that at least the children should not be involved in choosing the mica.

Most used in cosmetics

Mica is most commonly used in cosmetics. There are many companies in Rajasthan which require mica for cosmetic products. At the same time, mica is used for the tempered glass of the mobile.

gave his own example

I told them that now is the time for these children to study. You can do the work later too. I set my own example before him. Told them that I had a hunger to study, so I have been able to study till here. I will study further and become a teacher.

struggled a lot myself

I have struggled a lot to read and write myself. I have two younger brothers, Arenes Marandi and Ashish Marandi. Papa runs a grocery store. It's not enough to run the house. Somehow I have studied till now.

want to be a teacher

I had given matric exam last year only. I got 69 percent marks in this. Right now I am in Falguni Prasad Yadav College, Chakai and I am doing 11th. I want to make career as a teacher. Children should read and write, become the support of your family, bring light to the name of the village, this is the dream. I would like to tell every girl that read a lot. If you read, there will be no shortage of anything in life.