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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stones in Jaipur in the house. (Due to the strict 'purdah system' girls are not allowed in the outside
world but are preferred to stay inside the house). Sabina looked very pale and afraid of talking to
anyone who was a stranger, like me.
In her house there were three machines, two for polishing and one for drilling holes in small
stones, which had to be driven by hand. Her father worked on one machine and Sabina had
worked on the other machine polishing ruby stones which is a precious stone and more costly.
After two years she received Rs 400 per month which her parents collected from the owners of
the machines who came regularly to the house. These owners also supplied the family with rough
ruby stones. Her father earns Rs 200 per day.
Because the work took place in the home she nearly worked the whole day but could also move
around more freely. When there was not much work or when she was not polishing the stones,
she did embroidery inside the house or did 'bindai' (i.e. the drilling of holes in stones with a handdriven
machine).
Her family consisted of her father, her mother, four brothers and one sister in the age range of 5 to
15. Her younger brother of 8 also attended the Special School. Her elder brother of 15 worked
outside the house doing 'ghat' shaping by hand. He earned Rs 500 per month after having done
this job for three years. Sabina's father had education up till the seventh standard and her mother
was illiterate. Later Sabina's parents sent her to the Special School as they thought that education
was better for her.
Sabina liked the job she was doing as it was all happening inside her own house. Now she
preferred going to school, to become a good person and self-dependent later in life. Though she
had always gone to the Muslim school which consisted mainly of moral lessons, now she got
subjects which would give her a future like mathematics, reading, writing, Hindi etc. At the end
of the interview she became a little more relaxed, and said that she wanted to become a doctor.
The service she would give free of charge. Her aim was to cure people and prevent them from
illness.
Case 4: Mommad Sharif
Mommad is 10 years of age and earned Rs 200 per month for shaping ruby stones. He worked 8
hours and got 1 hour rest. He did not like the work. He operated the Ghat machine which is a
hand-driven. Often his fingers were bleeding and aching and he felt his back. He was often very
tired. His father sent him to work because the family needed the extra income. When Mommad
started working he earned Rs 50 per month. He is illiterate but wanted education, because he
wanted to become a lawyer. He wanted to fight corruption.
His father and elder brother also worked in the gem polishing industry. His father earned Rs 2000
and brother is earned Rs 500 per month. In all, Mommad had 5 brothers and 3 sisters.
Case 5: Mommad Shafiq
Mommad is 10 years of age and had been working for 4 years. He belonged to Jaipur. He did not
like to work, but he had to abide by his father' wish. The work was painful. He had to handle big
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