icides, have the potential to damage all the vital functions of the human body including the reproductive system. Chemical pesticides are profusely used in the cotton growing areas of Gujarat from where numerous cases of pesticide poisoning, cancer, stunted and malformed children are regularly reported. This can be directly linked to the extensive use of toxic pesticides and lack of elementary precautions. The tobacco processing industry also employs a large number of women workers. When the tobacco leaves are cut and rolled, a large amount of dust is directly inhaled by the women. It coats the mucous membrane of the windpipe and the victims can neither spit nor swallow. It is also suspected that the tobacco dust adversely affects the menstrual cycle in women and milk production in young mothers. Gujarat is the largest producer of salt in the country and about one lakh Agarias, both men and women, work in the salt pans. Most of these salt pans are situated in far flung coastal areas where no health care facilities are available. No gum boots or gloves are provided to these Agarias who, for hours, stand in highly saline water and handle salt with their bare hands. As a result, many of them, including the women, suffer from various skin infections and due to the stark whiteness of their environment, face the risk of partial blindness. The sick and pregnant women seldom get timely medical aid and many of them suffer from severe anaemia and post delivery complications. As a result most of their children too suffer from malnutrition. The ship breaking industry is a relatively new sector offering labour opportunities to women. About 400 women labourers work at the ship breaking plots at Alang. They carry dismantled furniture and other items as head loads that are removed from the ship's cabins by the male labourers. These women then discharge their loads onto the plots. Most of them are between 15 and 35 years old, which is the child-bearing ...
