Responsible Mica Initiative Publishes 2021 Annual Report Detailing Progress Empowering Communities and Eradicating Child Labor

For five years, RMI has coordinated effort of individuals and institutions committed to achieving a collective vision. The impact of RMI’s presence and programs was validated by the responses of communities to the pandemic and can now be seen in mica processing units, in mica-dependent villages covered by RMI’s Community Empowerment Programs and local partners. RMI also saw that more can and will be done to build on this momentum: RMI will extend its programs to 2030 in India, beyond its initial five-year mission, and launch new initiatives in Madagascar.

Among the key milestones achieved by RMI throughout 2021:

• Community Empowerment Programs are now implemented in 130 mica-dependent villages. An external impact assessment not only confirmed their overall efficiency but helped identify the activities that proved to be the most effective and that will lead to sustainable impact for mica-dependent communities.
• RMI has developed a blockchain-based traceability platform designed to monitor the progress of all RMI members and to better understand their supply chains.
• RMI has coordinated the pilot audit of two processing units against the Global Workplace Standard for Mica Processors.
• RMI pursued direct engagements with local governments and completed the design of two models for the formalization of artisanal and small-scale mines in Jharkhand that would create legal frameworks for their operation.
• Building on its experience in India, RMI plans to allocate resources to address issues encountered by artisanal mica miners in the south of Madagascar. RMI has begun the process of registering in Madagascar and RMI representatives have already met with members of Madagascar’s parliament.