Media carried report on the 3rd July, 2010 alleging that about 70 thousand children from Nepal, Bangladesh, Assam, Bihar and Jharkhand are working in the private coal mines in Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya. Starting in the morning at five O'clock, these child labourers have to work in rat-holes for 8-10 hours. Allegedly very often, the mines are flooded due to heavy rain, and there are rumours about the death of child labourers due to drowning or collapsing of the quarries. But neither the police, nor the family members are informed by the employers about the death of these children, and no compensation is paid to the victim's family. Further, unscientific mining is causing a lot of danger to the environment and creating health hazards for the people in the area.
Taking suo motu cognizance of the media report, the Commission on the 6th of July, 2010, observed that the contents of media report, if true, raise serious issue of violation of human rights of the children, and issued a notice to the Chief Secretary, Government of Meghalaya, calling for a report in the matter.