Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

19th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
A little girl found the coal fire cozy and warm to beat the chilling winter evening as she lacks winter garments

I learned so much from these people who are fighting each day despite of all challenges and adversities. They have not given up, not lost hope and have not forgotten to smile which we easily let go away in much less worse condition than this. India's coal hub Jharia, sits atop the country’s biggest coal reserves and the profession of inhabitants are mainly coal miners and coal scavengers. Coal scavenging is easy alternative due to abundance of coal in open cast mines here. People take huge risk to collect such coal and prepare charcoal from that by burning the raw coal near their houses. In winter when the temperature gets very low these coal fire acts as boon to the local people of all ages to get warmth and comfort. As most of these coal scavengers are living below poverty line they doesn’t have enough winter garments and good shelters to beat the cold.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 12.2020
Date Uploaded: 07.2021
Photo Location: Bhowra, Jharkhand, India, India
Camera: NIKON D810
Copyright: © Vivek Sen