India reported 1,109 deaths and more than 4,000 injuries in registered factories, on average, each year between 2017 and 2020. The largely informal economy and underreporting of incidents even in the formal economy mean these figures are underestimates, say experts
The article is based on a fact-finding report of an accident killing 15 migrant workers near Surat. It argues that this mishap was not caused due to rash driving but was an episode signifying the liquidation of marginalised people.
It is a key safety net in times of economic, agrarian distress and provides women with an income but the low wages and hard labour make it a last resort.