India's Coal Industry

MYRSEIN, INDIA - MARCH 26: Mechanics and helpers from truck crews rest by a fire March 26, 2008 in the town of 8 mile in Meghalaya State in Northeast India. The town is named so since it is located eight miles from Jowai. Hundreds of coal carrying trucks passing through 8 mile every day and all businesses in the small town cater to the needs of the truckers and their vehicles. India is on the rise and the quest for energy is bigger than ever. Meghalaya State is the second-largest coal producing area in India and contrary to the government-owned mines in Bihar State the Meghalaya mines are all privately owned. It is said that at least 90 percent of the people working in the mines are migrants, either from the poor Indian states like Bihar and West Bengal or Nepal and Bangladesh. The work is risky and hard, but at around 75 to a high 100 USD per week the pay is good and seemingly high enough that the workers don't worry too much about the lack of safety equipment and India's general sketchy mining safety record. (Photo by David Hogsholt/Edit by Getty Images)