The widows who now work the same jobs that killed their husbands
Business Insider
February 25, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
In Rajasthan, India, a deadly disease called silicosis is claiming the lives of sandstone miners, leaving their widows to take over their dangerous jobs in order to pay off debts. These women, forced into a cycle of poverty and exploitation, work in the same quarries where their husbands died, earning minimal wages that barely support their families. The article highlights the stories of Bimla, Sapna, and Radha Bai, widows who continue to break stone despite the risks of silicosis, which has no cure and often kills miners by the age of 40. Many of these women are in severe debt, with interest rates as high as 70%, making it nearly impossible to escape this cycle.
Silicosis is caused by inhaling fine silica dust from broken rock, leading to lung damage and scarring that makes breathing difficult. Over half of mine workers in Rajasthan suffer from the disease, with estimates suggesting up to 800,000 people in the state may be afflicted. The article underscores the dire working conditions, where widows earn just $2 to $3 a day—about half of what men earn—and are forced to work even when sick. Activists describe this situation as a form of modern-day slavery, with workers trapped by debt and explo
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Originally published on Business Insider on 2/25/2026