Maharashtra’s sugarcane dilemma: cutters seek a way out as mills turn to machines

Lata Waghmare's tragic story is one of many faced by sugarcane cutters in Maharashtra, a state that relies heavily on this labor force for its sugar industry. In a shocking incident, a contractor's negligence resulted in the death of Waghmare's infant daughter while she was working to make ends meet. Despite her grief, she was penalized by the contractor for taking time off to care for her child.

Thousands of migrant sugarcane cutters, mostly women, continue to work under harsh conditions, facing financial and sexual exploitation, and a lack of basic rights and amenities. The Bombay High Court recently directed the Maharashtra government to implement welfare measures for sugarcane cutters, causing sugar mills to turn to mechanization as a solution to the labor shortage.

With fewer than five lakh sugarcane cutters remaining in the state, the future for these workers remains uncertain as the industry shifts towards mechanized harvesting.