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Lost Water: A Salt Worker's Life, The
Content:Documentary Film
Available From:Documentary Educational Resources
Media Type:DVD
Release Date:2007
Audience:Higher Education
High School
Running Time:21 min.
Physical Description:1 disk w/ booklet
Language:Gujarati with English subtitles
Author:a film by DaKxin Barange : distributed by Documentary Educational Resources
Subject:Anthropology and Sociology
Diaspora and Ethnicity
Economics and Business
Science, Technology, & the Environment
Subheading:Discrimination and Racism
Economic Conditions
Economic Demography
Economic Policy
Labor
Poverty
Public Health
Rural Conditions
Workplace
Region:South Asia
Country:India



Abstract:

"73% of the total salt production in India comes from Gujarat State, almost 60% of which comes from Little Rann of Kutch (LRK), Gujarat. The government of Gujarat has consistently ignored the LRK area.  The salt workers of LRK, known as Agariyas, are predominantly from the Koli and Chuvaliya Koli tribes.  As bonded laborers, they are not only victims of wage discrimination, they are endure serious physical and mental health hazards due to the dangerous nature of their work.  Kharaghoda village itself is home to 437 widows.  Working in extreme temperatures without any protective gear, many Agariyas suffer major health complications, including blindness and skin damage due to unprotected exposure to salt.  Living in abject poverty, Agariyas now face water scarcity as well as malnutrition since green vegetables are not available in this area.

The LRK area has recently been designated as a wildlife sanctuary for the threatened Indian Wild Donkey, making salt workers and salt production in LRK now illegal.  Agariyas have been forced by government authorities to look outside the LRK for work, now struggling for both their ancestors' land and their livelihood."

~ product description 






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