A study by NGO Health Environment and Development Consortium (HEDCON) and Gramin Vikas Vigyan Samiti (GRAVIS), reveals in their struggle to earn a meagre livelihood, women mine labourers in Rajasthan face violence, disease and environmental pollution.The study found that most work from early childhood and many are trapped as bondage labourers due to loans and advances taken for family expenses like marriages. The workers include women abandoned by their husbands or widows of men who succumb to mining-related diseases such as silicosis or tuberculosis.
Often the women have no control over their income. Administration of the money lies - due to widespread illiteracy - either in the hands of the mine owners or their husbands. Most female mineworkers have either alcoholics or sick (from mine-related illnesses) men for husbands.
