Behind the make-up: the illegal child workers in India’s mica mines

Illegal child labour is rampant in the mines of northern India, where families earn a living from mining the mineral mica used in cosmetic products, paint and electronics. Many of the families from the mineral-rich state of Jharkhand are also some of the poorest in the country. While mica mining is a dangerous and labour-intensive industry, NGOs warn that the communities would fall into extreme poverty if the illegal mines were closed.