News in Frames | In pursuit of salt and survival

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B efore the sun rises over the Bay of Bengal, the salt pans near Ongole in Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh are already stirring. In the dim light, workers walk toward the shimmering white fields to begin another day of labour — work that leaves an indelible mark on their bodies and lives. Behind the glittering mounds of salt lies a world shaped by sweat, uncertainty, and an unending struggle for survival.

Thousands of workers in the coastal mandals of Kothapatnam, Naguluppalapadu, Chinna Ganjam, Singarayakonda and Vetapalem depend on salt production for their livelihood. The salt season begins in mid-December, coinciding with the festive period leading up to Sankranti, and continues till the rains in July. However, this year, the El Niño has extended the dry season, and salt production continues. Workers repair mud bunds, pump concentrated brine into the pans and, under the scorching sun, scrape salt crystals from the surface by hand or with simple wooden tools. In remote salt fields without proper roads, they carry the harvested salt on their heads and pile it along the bunds.

The work is gruelling. Spending long hours in brine and intense heat exposes workers to skin ailments, eye irritation, and joint pain. Sunlight reflected off the white crystals places additional strain on their eyes.

This harsh occupation also affects family life. For some families, finding suitable marriage alliances for their sons outside villages where salt farming is the main occupation is usually very difficult.

Every season is a gamble. An unexpected spell of rain can wash away months of hard work, while falling salt prices can wipe out the meagre incomes of workers, as in this season. While the monsoon has made its presence felt in most districts of coastal Andhra, Prakasam remains dry. The salt prices have fallen because of overproduction.

In a normal year, once the monsoon arrives, a hush settles over the salt pans, and these salt workers turn to government employment schemes, fishing, and other temporary jobs to make ends meet.

Yet, with every new season, they return to the salt pans.