TNN reported that, with the sun blazing at over 40 degrees Celsius, these men and women wait on a mound amouldering at its core. They rush towards dumper unloading a pile of earth, getting so close that there is a risk of getting buried under it. It is soil removed from the Western Coalfields Limited's mines to get at the coal beneath. Called overburden mining jargon, after years of mining the mound resembles a hill. Armed with hammers, these people extract pieces of leftover coal from this dump.

The freshly excavated coal is still hot, and the dust raised due to dumping almost shrouds the sky. But at Gondegaon, a village 22 kilometers from Nagpur, this is the source of livelihood for hundreds. One not only finds residents of Gondegaon and nearby villages but also those from far off districts in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, including old women and children, picking up coal. Each one tries to extract at least a couple of sacks that sell for around INR 150.

They are aware, but unmindful, of the risks. Farmland around Gondegaon was taken over for WCL's mine years ago. Some landowners got a job in WCL in lieu of it but many farm hands were left unemployed. They turned to coal scavenging.

Soon others from nearby villages also got pulled into the business.

(Sourced from TNN)