India: Violation of the right to food of mineworkers in Jodhpur District, Rajasthan

About 40 000 mineworkers and their families in the Soorsagar Mining Area, Jodhpur District are threatened by hunger and undernourishment. They are exposed to occupational and chronic diseases such as asthma, tuberculosis or silicosis, due to which many of them become incapable to work and often die at younger age. The wages the workers receive are generally so low that they can hardly sustain their families. A large number of women and children have to support or replace their husbands or fathers respectively in case of ill health or death, and are forced to work under appalling conditions, in order not to starve to death.