Hundred Of Kids In Dhanbad Coal Mines Fighting For Two Time Meals

Education is a necessity and a right of every individual but for children of Dhuli, it’s a privilege. It’s a privilege even to have two square meals a day.

Meet the children of Dhuli, where it’s not at all unusual for them to start helping bring more money into the house from the tender age of 6 or 7. Their faces are blackened with soot and grime, not because of playing, but working in the coal mines. Here, parents are helplessly forced to take their children to work with them in the coal mines but still fail to have two square meals a day.

“No parent would want their children to work here. It is so hazardous to work in these conditions. Their hands could get cut or burned and they are so prone to illness. But hunger makes them to it. They are born in this dust and are surrounded by the dust, but still sleep with an empty stomach at night.” -Sunita Devi, member of Sahadeva Foundation

Forced to do child labour to survive

People here at Dhuli, know nothing beyond the mines. Coal mining and related careers are the only bread-and-butter available to the people here.. They work as daily wagers for 400 rupees which is barely enough for basic necessities let alone send their child to school or even provide them with nutritious food. Children just become a part of this harsh reality and end up working as child labourers to fill their stomachs.

“I don’t want to work here, but looking at my parents’ struggle, I come here to help. Even after working so much, eating twice a day is difficult. My hands often get cut and burned but that’s how it is with everyone.” -Meena, 9-year-old, forced to do child labour due to their financial condition

The basti is surrounded by coal mines and the air is polluted due to blasting of the mines. This is causing a lot of problems, from Asthma, TB, diarrhoea to even blood cancer. The main cause of children’s constant sickness is the lack of nutritious food. And with the efforts of the Sahadeva Foundation, to feed them with meals twice a day, this can change.

A dream beyond the dream of no hunger

Sahadeva Foundation is centered around empowering individuals and communities through compassionate action. They work for social causes spanning education, hunger alleviation, empowerment, disaster relief, health, and environmental sustainability.

In Dhuli, they serve food to about 150+ children, giving them the freedom to dream beyond hunger. “Hunger shouldn’t be the reason to stop anyone’s dreams.”- Sunita Devi

Sahadeva Foundation has been taking care of these kids by providing healthy meals twice a day since 2019. But now, they need support to continue. They do not have sufficient funds to run this selfless service. They need rations which include wheat, rice, oil, vegetables etc to feed these children who are now filled with hope of a brighter future.

“If you can join us in this journey, we can together bring light to these children working in the coal mines.” – Sunita Devi

Your donations will help us provide ration to Sahadeva Foundation. Donate to the cause and help them fight hunger and malnutrition. Children of Dhuli need your support.