’Even dogs are better off’: The ongoing battle between capital and labour in the cane‐fields of Gujarat

Abstract

The effects on labour relations of transformation of the rural economy of South Gujarat are considered. Changes investigated in the late 1970s are further examined a decade later. The impact of increasing prosperity, and a major shift in the composition of the rural economy (with sugarcane particularly important), upon the region's landless proletariat is analysed. Attention is focused upon migrant cane cutters — largely from western Maharashtra, low caste and often of tribal origin ‐ and there is detailed treatment of their working and living conditions. Changes in the relationship between capital and labour are noted, but conditions of the workers are shown to be as abysmal now as they were previously. Capitalist development has not benefited the poor. Government intervention has been insufficient. These ‘labour nomads’ show considerable resilience and practice a ‘silent militancy’, but their capacity for collective action is undermined by their alien status.

Notes

Centre for Asian Studies. University of Amsterdam, Oude Hoogstraat 24, 1012 CE Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The field research was sponsored by the Indo‐Dutch Programme on Alternatives in Development.