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Children of India's burning coalfields dream of a fire-free future
(Context, 13 Dec 2022) Coal workers hope education can help the next generation win cleaner, healthier jobs in a region that has been wedded to dirty, dangerous mining for over a century
It's an unusual dream for a resident of India's oldest coalfield, Jharia, where fires rage underground, bare trees stand guard morosely around mines spewing dust and fumes - and where coal has provided work for at least four generations.
Kurmi, 32, was the first in his family to get an education: a diploma in mining. Now he and many other young people in the region want to leave their soot-blighted lives behind, even as coal production soars.
But they face an uphill struggle in an area where there is no other thriving industry.
Kurmi travels to nearby towns and makes videos showcasing visitor attractions such as markets, temples and fairs, which he uploads to his YouTube channel in the hope of winning more views and subscriptions to draw in advertising and generate revenue.
"My father operated wagons that carry coal. But I don't like this work. You inhale fumes all day and live in fear of fatal accidents," said Kurmi, sipping tea from a clay cup at a roadside eatery
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Context, 13 Dec 2022: Children of India's burning coalfields dream of a fire-free future
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