India's Salt Economy
The Agariyas of the Little Rann
How the agariya salt workers of Gujarat's Little Rann of Kutch make salt in harsh conditions for eight months a year, their low earnings and health problems.
The agariyas make salt in the Little Rann of Kutch.
The work
- From about October to May, families live in the desert.
- They pump brine from underground and evaporate it in pans.
Harsh conditions
- Extreme heat and glare.
- Salt damages skin and eyes.
- Little access to water, schools or clinics.
Earnings
Agariyas earn little, as traders set prices and they owe debts.
Solar pumps
Solar pumps replaced diesel pumps for many, cutting fuel costs.
Wildlife sanctuary
The Little Rann is a wild ass sanctuary, creating disputes over salt workers’ rights.
The solar pump
An agariya family switches from a diesel to a solar pump, saving much of what they once spent on fuel.
Thinking salt is made by machines
Much is made by hand in harsh conditions.
Key takeaways
- Agariyas make salt in the Little Rann.
- They work about eight months a year.
- Conditions are harsh and earnings low.
- Solar pumps cut fuel costs.
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