National heroes just 15 days ago, rat-hole miners now face the struggle for livelihood as their days of glory wane, writes ASAD

Every story, no matter how remarkable, eventually fades from people’s minds, and the same goes for the 12 rat-hole miners who played the last crucial role in rescuing 41 workers trapped in the Uttarkashi tunnel 20 days ago.

In a last-ditch effort to free the workers trapped underground since November 12, the rat-hole miners dug more than 10 metres in just 48 hours at the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi. This finally resolved the tense situation on November 28, with the media closely watching the rescue operation. Before this success, six different plans were attempted, including drilling from three locations in different ways, but none of them worked.

Even when the rescuers were feeling unsure, hesitant to give a definite timeline for finishing the colossal task, international tunnelling professional Arnold Dix said, “It may take some time, perhaps up to a month, but I cannot specify the exact timeline. Rushing the process is not advisable. The priority is the safe return of these men, and I am confident they will be home for Christmas.”

In this setting, where even the rescue experts were losing hope, the rat-hole miners swooped in and lifted everyone’s spirits.

On November 28, a burst of euphoria swept through as the news flashed: The beleaguered workers, ensnared in the tunnel, were freed. It marked the culmination of a 17-day-long marathon rescue operation — a testament to the unwavering determination and collaborative effort of five agencies involved, including NDRF, SDRF, Indian Army, micro-tunnelling expert Chris Cooper and other State and Central agencies.

The heroic efforts of the rat-hole miners garnered not only praise but also captured the spotlight of the media, propelling them into the esteemed status of national and international heroes. Their courageous actions resonated far and wide, casting them as symbols of inspiration and resilience on a global scale.

Now, as those days of glory have passed, hailing from impoverished backgrounds, these people have begun to toil relentlessly, dedicating exhaustive hours to cleanse the sewer lines of Delhi.

The pursuit of a fresh livelihood has become their main concern.

Sitting in a cozy little one room duplex in Khajoori Khas colony of Delhi, one miner Md Irshad Ansari who helped in the rescue said the claps and cheers they got did not last long.

 “Right now, we are putting in a lot of effort to earn a living, doing the same job of cleaning sewers. We had hoped that the significant event would lift us out of poverty,” he shared.

Another team member, Monu Kumar, residing in Uttar Pradesh, said people are showing love, and they have received some cheques, but they are not sufficient. He said after some time, the money will run out, and they will be back to their usual struggles. “We want the Government to provide us with some jobs to make life easier,” he said.

After their brave deed, about fifteen days later, the visits to their homes in Delhi have slowed down. Initially, there was a long line of well-wishers in the winding streets eager to congratulate them, but now, things have settled a bit.

In the curvy lanes of the less fortunate neighbourhood, where life’s essentials are hard to come by, people continue to recognise and appreciate their courageous acts.

Their bravery has made a lasting mark in the community, keeping their neighbourhood well-known and respected. For days, they became the talk of the town in their close-knit community. Everybody eagerly approached, wanting to shake hands and exchange a few words with them.

“They are good boys. Around 10 years ago, they were part of the team which had installed a sewer line in the colony, and we all still remember that. Now, they have done a remarkable job by saving the lives of the trapped miners. We are proud of them,” said Israel, a resident who lives just a few lanes away from the house of 36-year-old Wakeel Hassan, the leader of the rat-hole miners’ group.

Rat-hole miners are skilled at getting coal from small, flat mines. They dig a narrow hole, about three to four feet wide, just big enough for one person to go down and collect coal. To make the hole, they use tools like pickaxes, shovels, and hammers.

In 2014, the Meghalaya Government put a stop to rat-hole mining. This decision followed a temporary ban from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) after a sad event in 2012. During that incident, 30 coal workers got stuck in a mine, and unfortunately, 15 lives were lost.

Following the Uttarkashi tunnel rescue, the story took a turn as the rat-hole miners received praise, even from online users. A user on X enthusiastically posted, “Indian Jugad ‘Rat-Hole-Mining’ triumphs over Giant Augur machine!” This acclaim signifies the miners’ resourcefulness and resilience in overcoming challenges, capturing the attention and praise of online communities.

Away from the attention of the virtual world, the six rat-hole miners, gathered in a small room filled with people, are hopeful that media coverage would bring a positive turn to their luck, but now seem a bit sombre. Not much has drastically changed in their lives despite the initial burst of attention and joy.

Many of them, migrants from Uttar Pradesh, journeyed to Delhi years ago with dreams of making it big and becoming wealthy. Unfortunately, fate had a different plan for them. Without formal education, they found themselves doing sewer work, hoping that one day they could afford to own their own house. They settled in an unauthorised colony in Delhi’s Khajoori Khas in 1992 or some later on, because that is what they could afford at the time.

In the midst of his small home in Khajoori Khas, crowded with visitors and his family members all around, Wakeel stands out as the most polished among the rat-hole miners. Clad in a spotless white shirt and black trousers, clean-shaven, he takes the lead in interacting with the media, eloquently expressing the viewpoints of his fellow team members.

As he chatted with the YouTubers and guests filling his home, his phone suddenly buzzed. Quickly grabbing it, a bright smile lit up his face as if he had stumbled upon a treasure. It was Akhilesh Yadav on the other end. Later, he shared that Akhilesh wanted to meet them to honour their efforts with a cash reward. The other five miners at the house, who had gathered to talk with the media, were overjoyed.

But that was not sufficient; it was like a tiny drop in the vast ocean. The miners are yearning for more — a lasting solution to their poverty. They realise that if this golden opportunity slips away, they might remain in a state of destitution.

Their aspiration goes beyond just survival; they aim to step out of the challenging sewer work and embrace something more dignified. Like many middle-class Indians, they share the dream of providing their children with quality education, nutritious meals, and a comfortable home. The desire is vividly etched on their faces.

“We have not received much. It feels like we have already been forgotten. We hope the Government pays attention to our situation and provides us with jobs so that our lives can stabilise,” said Wakeel.

Another rat-hole miner, Munna Qureshi, said for the last 14 days, they have had no permanent job. “Whatever money we got from well-wishers is now running out as we do not have a job right now. Our request is from the Governments to think about us also,” he said.

The first political bigwig to visit their home was the Delhi Congress president along with his team. They handed Rs 5,000 to each of the six workers residing in Delhi. Soon after, the BJP team also paid a visit and gave them a more substantial amount of Rs 25,000 each. Then, out of the blue, Wakeel said one day he received a call from Akhilesh Yadav, the former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and chairman of the Samajwadi Party, who offered them with Rs 1 lakh each as token money for their courageous work.

“We appreciate the recognition we have received, but what has come so far is like peanuts. As time goes by, it will be used up, and we will go back to our original work, living a life of hardship. We were invited by Indian Idol, and they gave us a Rs 1 lakh cheque each, but we were told it would take months to cash it. The reality has hit all 12 of us that there is nobody recognising our work until now,” said Wakeel.

The struggling rat-hole miners believe that despite their hard work and media attention so far, they have not become true heroes with improved opportunities. That is why they are seizing every chance to get their stories covered in the media, help in building their narrative, and a viral report might change their lives forever, said one YouTuber who visited their house a few days ago for a story.