Village making a living from stone mining

By Raju Lamichhane,Musikot, Feb. 23: Stone has been everything for 71-year-old Dhan Singh Pun of Goiri, a village in Ward No. 8 of Chaurjahari Municipality of Rukum West district. All his memories are related to stones because it has been 56 years since he has been working in a stone quarry.

For more than half a century, Pun's daily routine has been to reach the stone quarry site every morning and break stones until sunset. 

"I have been supporting my family by breaking stones. 

This is what aids me to pay the fees of my children's higher education as well," said Pun.

According to Pun, stone mining had started in Goiri since the days of his own grandfather. "Now, the sector has grown and developed further increasing employment opportunities for many," he added.

"I was able to afford higher education for my two sons and a daughter from the earnings I made by working in the stone mine," said Khime Gharti, a 61-year-old of Goiri.

"I started working in the mine since I was 15. I got married at 16. 

I have been able to afford basic necessities for my family, alongside constructing a house and adding land, by working here. I am happy for not having to leave my family in search of work," Gharti added.

Like Pun and Gharti, stone mining has been the source of livelihood for all the families in Goiri village. There are around 100 families in the village.

The stones mined from Goiri are used as grinding stones and roofing, and are also used to create decorative items. Recently, locals said that the stones were also being used to make marble and tile.  "Currently, 75 stone breakers and 23 helpers are working in the mine. We are mining stones from 15 different mines by deploying at least five individuals in each of them," said Misar Kumar Malla, operator of the stone mine.

Not only men, but also women mine stones in the village.

The work in the stone mine is only performed between mid-November and mid-June because it is difficult to mine in the monsoon season.

Money to pay to land owners for mining stones, labour costs, and tax, among others, is earned by selling the mined stones. 

The stones are priced on the basis of their shape and size. Currently, the price starts from Rs. 70 per piece for a stone.

"When I started to work, I used to sell 100 pieces of stone for Rs. 10. Now, people earn Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 5,000 a day on the basis of their hard work," said 71-year-old Pun.

Stone mines are located in private lands. Thus, the mining company operators pay money to the land owners for mining stones. 

This year, stones are being mined from 15 mines located in the lands owned by five different individuals.

"There are many more mines. However, we cannot start mining anywhere because it costs a lot to do so. I have been unable to earn a good profit since the cost to open the recent mines was more than I thought," said Malla, who also owns some lands with the mines.

There are also stone mines in Gadimalika village of Chaurjahari. 

"Around 150 people have earned a livelihood by working in the two mines. We have constructed roads to the mining sites. Contracts have been awarded multiple times to upgrade the roads as well," said Pushpa Badi, Mayor of Chaurjahari.

He also informed that the local level was planning to make mining safer and effective with technologies, and to provide a proper market for the products.

"We could make the mining sector better-managed and profitable if the local government and land owners coordinated to mine stones jointly," said Mayor Badi.