Child-and-adult-labour-in-the-export-oriented-garment-and-gem-polishing-industry-of-India

Child and adult labour in the gem polishing export industry of Jaipur
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3. Fever. Many children said that they often suffered from fever due to keeping the hand continuously
in cold water during the work. The temperature of the body goes down and one more often
catches a flue or a cold.
4. Eye strain. A fourth health problem was related to the eyes and only older workers who were
complaining about their eyesight. When an adult worker was asked whether looking at tiny emerald
gem stones while faceting them for 8 to 10 hours per day for 10 to 15 years, did not damage
his eyes, he replied by saying that 'emeralds are famous for having the power of healing the eyes
if one stares at them for a long time' 164 .
Future plans
Most of the children who were interviewed inside their work place wanted to become workshopowners
or carry out other professions related to the industry. The child workers who were
interviewed outside the work place, and the ex-working children, all had future plans which were
not related to the work in the gem polishing industry.
The ex-working children who had been withdrawn from work and who attended the Special
School, said during the interview that they first liked the working because they were earning
money, but now they see education and learning to write and read as more important.
The working girl child
The Muslim girl child was not sent to work outside the house. The 'purdah' system or 'seclusion'
of the girl from the life and males outside the house was very strictly followed by the Muslim
families. Girls were therefore employed inside the house. Though no girl children younger than
14 years had been come across during visits to the units, informants said that there were 5,000 girl
children under 14 years of age who worked at home processing gem stones. But it was very difficult
to estimate their number as it was far from easy to get access to the households in Jaipur. The
interviewed girl children of this study, started processing gem stones around 10 or 11 years of age
or later, because before that age they were more often needed in taking care of the younger
siblings and the household.
The girl child was doubly exploited because she worked the whole day inside the house whether
processing gem stones and other jobs for money, but moreover she helped in the household and
took care of siblings. The processing of gem stones, mainly the cheapest semi-precious coloured
gem stones, either existed in drilling holes in the small stones by hand or by machine, or cutting
and polishing the gem stones. The interviewed girl children were not taught the skills by a
craftsman.
It was observed that the Muslim girl child was sometimes sent to school, but when she reached
puberty or her income was needed she could be withdrawn from the school at any time. Most of
the girl children, however, were completely illiterate and were prepared for marriage soon. The
girls who had been withdrawn from school felt very lonely as they could not regularly meet their
friends any more. The girl child hardly had a social life or a childhood. The interviewed girls said
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164 In a book on the occult power of gem stones was written: 'Throughout history, the emerald is one of the highest valued stones for its
healing and protective powers. It is said that by gazing at the emerald, one improves eyesight'. In: Manik Chand Jain, 1988, Occult Power of
Gems.