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Dateline: Apr 15

This week on Dateline, underage children working in Indian coal mines get a new chance at life.

2014-04-13_0119This week on Dateline, underage children working in Indian coal mines get a new chance at life.

In North Eastern India, children as young as ten and eleven are working in mines known as “rat holes”. In unbearable conditions they spend their days digging for coal in tunnels often no higher than a metre.

The children have no formal training, no protective clothing and will not receive any compensation if injured.

Their employment is both illegal and dangerous, with allegations that authorities are failing to stop the exploitation of these children, some of whom have been trafficked from Nepal.

Amos Roberts’ story follows three young boys, brothers Bikash (12) and Bishal (10) and their friend, Lakpa (14).

When Amos interviews the young boys he learns that Lakpa witnessed the tragic death of his father in the same mine that he works.

“His eye popped out…when he died, he had one eye missing, his tongue was cut, his skull was all cracked…” Lakpa tells Amos.

Amos also meets Hasina Kharbhih, the leader of Impulse, a non-government organisation determined to stamp out human trafficking and rescue these children from the mines.

During the filming of the story, Hasina is given permission from Bikash and Bishal’s parents to take the boys to Nepal and send them to a boarding school, where they can pursue their dreams of becoming a doctor and a pilot.

Amos follows the boys on their journey back to Nepal and reports on their remarkable transformation as they start at school and leave their old lives behind.

9:30pm Tuesday SBS ONE.

One Response

  1. Meanwhile, on “Sunday Night” will be another promo interview with someone releasing a new CD/DVD/book, promoting a ‘show’, and another nothing piece on ABBA. No doubt.

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