A decade after the gold mines closed, life is hell for former workers

From gold to dust

As it shut the gates of the mines, the government opened hopes in the hearts of the employees, promising facilities for families that lived solely dependent on the gold mines for about 120 years and literally ended on the streets overnight.

So far, however, the government did not find time to fulfill the promises.

The colonies, which house about 75,000 people formerly employed by the Bharat Gold Mines Limited (BGML), have turned into slums.

Sudden darkness

As long as they worked for BGML, the employees had never experienced power-cuts. The change in condition included a struggle to get basic electric connection- even a bulb- to their houses.

The workers had been slaves of the British Government, which started work on the gold mines. Now, under the Indian government, life seems worse, denied basic amenities and being treated like virtual untouchables.

Permission denied

The State government handed over the responsibility of managing the affairs of the mines to the City Municipal Council. Later, however, in what is considered an unkind move, the government sent instructions not to undertake development activities in the gold mine regions.

The Directorate of Civil Administration reasoned that the region brings no revenue to the City Municipal Council.

Living conditions

In more than 400 mine colonies, about 90 per cent of the people use the public toilets. The toilets lack both water and electric connection and are not cleaned even once a year.

The residences are no larger than 100 square feet. Any plans to demolish these 'houses' were rejected by the mine security staff.

The residents are forced to live in homes that face open drains, falling victims to various diseases every now and then.

Efforts to get permission for the mine workers to take up animal husbandry too failed. Instead, there were declarations that industries would be set up in the region; the regions, which house the deepest mines in the world, would be converted into a tourist spot; the mine region, which spreads to an area of about 12,000 acres, would be declared an industrial zone and industrialists would be invited to open factories. The claims, however, fell silent very soon, making life no better.

Industrious

The former workers in the gold mines, however, are still trying to find a silver lining in the all the dark surrounding their lives.

Not waiting for any help from the government or other authorities, they have taken up various professions to earn their daily bread.

They have ensured a steady increase in the income of the households despite lack of amenities. More than 10,000 former workers have taken up jobs in Bangalore and nearby places.

Better times?

In addition, the recent directive by the High Court to revive the gold mines has proven the greatest news in a long time, for the mine workers.

Waiting for the dream to turn a reality, is of course, another story…