Salt workers in Gujarat endure extreme heat while harvesting in the desert plains.

The extreme heatwaves affecting India are particularly severe in Gujarat’s salt pans, where workers endure relentless conditions to maintain the vital salt production industry. This annual migration of thousands highlights the interplay between harsh environmental realities and the resilience of communities dedicated to sustaining their livelihoods under challenging circumstances. The plight of these workers is a testament to human endurance in the face of climate change, illustrating not only the significance of their contributions but also the urgent need for improved working conditions as temperatures rise.

Every year, the western Indian state of Gujarat battles scorching heatwaves, yet few regions are as severely impacted as the salt pans of the Little Rann of Kutch. Here, tens of thousands of seasonal workers brave what some describe as near-unliveable conditions to support a crucial industry. Approximately 50,000 laborers migrate to this remote area for up to eight months, living directly on the salt flats, devoid of basic amenities such as electricity, healthcare, or permanent shelter. A water tanker makes the rounds every 25 days, a sporadic lifeline amidst the oppressive heat.

In this unforgiving landscape, summer temperatures routinely soar above 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit), occasionally reaching a blistering 47-48C (117-118F). Ironically, the same arid climate that imposes severe challenges also creates favorable conditions for salt production, with Gujarat constituting nearly three-quarters of India’s salt output. Workers extract salt by pumping saline water from bore wells into shallow evaporation ponds. The grueling daily routine involves raking the crystallizing surface and breaking the solidified crust into manageable mounds.

Workers, like Babulal Narayan, 42, adopt staggered schedules, performing their duties in the early morning or after sunset to escape the potent heat. With the absence of natural shade, makeshift shelters emerge, crafted from sticks and layered with coarse homespun fabric and wild donkey dung to provide some relief from the sun. Seventeen-year-old Bhavna Rathore explains how these structures enable brief breaks every few hours to mitigate the effects of the extreme temperatures. Improvised cooling methods, such as wrapping drinking water bottles in damp cloths, become essential for survival, while others find relief in hot beverages that stimulate sweating.

The India Meteorological Department warns of an increased number of heatwave days this year in Gujarat. A transition to solar-powered water pumps represents a move towards more sustainable practices, lowering operational costs yet paradoxically extending the working period into the sweltering season that traditionally ended in March. The consequences of such conditions can be dire. Workers commonly experience fatigue and heat stress, with studies revealing alarming rates of dehydration and early-stage kidney damage within these communities.

Additionally, unpredictable weather patterns, including unseasonal dust storms, further threaten the livelihoods of these workers. Narayan reported a storm that decimated salt production valued at 200,000 rupees (,100), leaving his family facing losses against their meager earnings of around 250,000 rupees (,635) for eight months of arduous labor.

Despite the hardships, many workers feel compelled to return year after year. As 65-year-old Rasoda Rathore poignantly articulated, farming and livestock are no longer viable options. “What else will we do?” she asked, lamenting the cycle of poverty that binds them to these salt pans. The situation underscores not only the resilience of the workers but also the pressing need for improved safety and working conditions in an era of extreme weather.

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