Motherhood in the pits - Means of livelihood or road to death?

08

Burden of Creation

Jodhpur, Sandstone Mining, Rajasthan

Maatharai peraikka ma dhavam seithidel vaandum (one should be very lucky to be born as a women) Bharathiyar said once. This women Sairna is nine months pregnant despite which she lifts stones and works hard for 8 hours every day. Her husband deserted her to marry another girl. Sairna, is fatherless and lives with her old mother and sister. She is the only bread earner for this small family. She will have to resume her job as early as 15 days after her delivery. Further there is no surety whether she will be paid for those 15 days of absence.