In the northwestern Indian state of Rajasthan, more than 2.5 million people work in the mining industry, making slabs, bricks, tiles, cobbles, and paving stones. Thousands of them are children. The stones these children make, in conditions of modern slavery, are used to pave streets in Europe, North America, and beyond.
Over the last two decades, dozens of media reports have talked about human rights abuses in global supply chains. Some European governments have also framed modern slavery laws, compelling multinational companies to take stock of the situation. Many of these companies, including those buying from Rajasthan, in turn, have made claims that they have cleaned up their supply chains.
But my award-winning investigation, published with The Guardian Long Read in March this year, revealed how mining companies in India had found a rather creative workaround to keep employing children: instead of calling them to the mines, where they could be caught, they had started dumping rocks outside their houses. Children are practically working from home now!
Time and again, powerful industries across the world have proved that they are ahead of lawmakers, activists, and journalists. As they continue to evade laws and destroy vulnerable communities in faraway lands, it’s extremely important for journalists investigating global supply chain and human rights issues to come together and share local knowledge and resources about the affected communities.
Throughout my investigation, I faced multiple obstructions: while local agents tried to block my access to the workers, a powerful mining association with strong political links threatened me legally and asked me to not publish the story. When I presented my findings to the government, they refused to engage with me.
To counter these challenges, I used some investigative tools and techniques that I would like to share with my colleagues. In a 30-minute presentation, I want to share how I was able to collect data using informal channels, speak with terrified children who had strict instructions to not talk to me, engage with the mining industry notorious for attacking journalists, minimise legal risks, and ensure the sources’ safety. For my freelancer friends, I would like to share my experiences on financially sustaining a longform investigation.
After my article's publication, a British law firm launched a legal investigation against a multinational, while another group of lawyers prepared a report on treatment of workers. The story was also a central reference at many human rights and business conferences in Europe. As a female independent journalist working from India, I hope this presentation would help other journalists working in repressive environments, mostly without the support of an institution.
A presentation by Romita Saluja.