RMI’s Program in India
In India, mica is primarily sourced from Jharkhand and Bihar, with additional production in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan. These regions face high risks of labor abuses and child labor, particularly in artisanal and small-scale mining operations. Communities in these areas often struggle with poverty, limited education, and insufficient access to basic services, creating conditions that perpetuate unsafe and exploitative working environments.
A significant challenge is the complex and poorly enforced legal framework governing mica mining. Historical laws, such as the Forest Conservation Act of 1980 and outdated regional mica regulations, have contributed to a proliferation of unregulated mines. This legal ambiguity allows some operators to bypass oversight, leading to poor working conditions, child labor, and limited enforcement of labor protections. Addressing these gaps is central to RMI’s mission to formalize mines, recognize mica dependent communities, improve compliance with Responsible Workplace Standards, and ensure child labor is eradicated from the mica supply chain in Jharkhand and Bihar.
Over the course of 9 years, as of October 2025, RMI supported:
individuals received training in improved farming practices.
households received support for small enterprises, to enhance their family income
households received seed support to establish their own kitchen gardens, enabling households to grow nutrient- rich vegetables & combat malnutrition
Village Health and Nutrition Days (VHNDs) were organized to improve access to healthcare, early childhood development, and sanitation services
health camps treated 1,670 individuals, while 621 children were screened in 37 nutrition camps.
children who had previously dropped out of school were reintegrated into the education system
adolescent girls, lactating mothers, and pregnant women were engaged in discussions on best practices for maintaining health and nutrition.
Balwadi (non-governmental childcare centers) were established, providing early childhood education to 958 children.
training sessions were conducted across 12 mica processors, covering workplace standard, legal requirements, audit preparation.
youth were provided with vocational training, 111 of whom have since secured stable jobs
India remains the world’s most important source of mica, supplying a wide range of industries from electronics and automotive to cosmetics and paints. The reality of mica extraction and trade in India is however complex and opaque. Global companies across all sectors are under increased scrutiny to demonstrate that their raw materials are responsibly sourced, yet they struggle to reach transparency to the mines, the very first mile of the supply chain.
The Community Empowerment program is directed by RMI staff and implemented with the support of more than 90 development professionals employed by local civil society organizations (CSOs).
These partners, previously organized in two distinct consortia, merged under a single one early 2025, and include as of December 2025: