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information. Their residence(huts) dot the boundary of the main quarry area and as such the workers and
children are constantly exposed to nauseating fumes from the quarries. This in turn results in severe cases
of respiratory diseases. In addition, the women and children in the area suffer from the age-old chronic
problem of an alcoholic and abusive husband/father. The rowdiness of the powerful contractors supported
by the rich owners adds further misery to the workers. It is under such inhospitable and hostile conditions
that Kaingkarya boldly operates to provide meaning to the life of distraught women and children.
I made a site visit to the place in the summer of 2008. I gave a very short notice to the authorities as I
wanted to get a sense of things as they are on a regular basis. I reached the place navigating myself
through the rough terrain on a hot and humid morning. It was heartening to meet Ms. Natarajan and Ms.
Jayashree Naidu who started by showing me around the crèche and a makeshift health centre that had a
doctor and 2 nurses nursing a worker who had suffered severe knee injury at the workplace. The doctor
apprised me of the severity of respiratory illnesses in the area and numerous cases of external physical
injuries due to blocks of rocks falling on legs. After the rude introduction of ailments, I was taken around
the quarry area by the authorities in a jeep, provided by the Japanese consulate.
What followed was a demystifying tour of how dismal the working conditions were. My site visit
to the school was converted to a tour of the rather pathetic life of the migrant labourers. I got off at the
corner of a cliff to take photographs of the work area only to be accosted by a bunch of rowdy contractors.
With the avid support of Ms. Natarajan and her driver, I embarked on a battle of words with the
contractors who were preventing us from taking pictures for fear of public attention. They were afraid that
their mistreatment of labourers would be exposed to the media and the inherent guilt and fear of public
wrath prompted them to indulge in physically prohibiting us to exercise our right in a free country. Despite
the wrangle, we went about our business in several other sections of the area taking pictures and carrying
out detailed conversations with the laborers. It was disturbing to note the lack of consciousness among
the laborers. They were unaware that hazardous work place injuries could be compensated by the owners.
They were unaware of basic human rights. They were unaware of a possible good life. Their earnings
were below poverty line and yet they were gracious enough to share their innutritious lunch with me. In
fact, their servility was evident when they expressed deep fear and shyness in expressing their monetary
need to their owners. This journey with several such stories continued till early evening.
Kaingkarya 13