As winter descends upon Delhi, ushering in the seasonal demand for almonds, a starkly different reality unfolds in the shadowy workshops of Karawal Nagar. Here, far from the cozy homes that enjoy these dry fruits, dozens of women endure grueling hours cracking and sorting almonds in exchange for meager wages and under severe health hazards.
The Grinding Reality of Almond Cracking
In the narrow, industrial lanes of this Delhi locality, workers like Rekha spend their long days in dusty, airless rooms. The air they breathe is thick with fine almond dust, known locally as 'barooda'. Their primary protection against this pervasive hazard are makeshift cloth masks, which offer little respite. For their labor, they earn a paltry sum of barely ₹3 per kilogram of almonds processed.
"We breathe this dust every day," shares Rekha, a sentiment echoed by many in these hidden workspaces. The work schedule is as punishing as the environment. For women like Manju Kumari, the grind involves unpredictable shifts, some beginning as early as 2 am, stretching through the day without the guarantee of basic facilities.
Protest Brings Little Change
A glimmer of hope emerged in 2024 when the workers organized a protest, demanding better wages and working conditions. The collective action did lead to a slight increase in their payments. However, the most critical issues of worker safety and dignity remained unaddressed. The hazardous working conditions, the primary concern, saw no improvement.
These warehouses, or godowns, where the work takes place, typically lack basic amenities like proper washrooms. Adding to the precariousness of their employment, most of these units are unregistered, operating quietly and informally from beneath residential homes, hidden from official scrutiny.
A Clash of Narratives and a Silent Struggle
The employers often justify the poor pay and conditions by citing falling business and slim profit margins in the almond trade. On the other side, labor unions continue to advocate forcefully for the workers, demanding not just fair wages but also fundamental safety and dignity.
In these dimly lit, dust-choked workshops, the production of Delhi's beloved winter delicacy continues to depend on the silent, arduous toil of these women. Their unseen labor fills homes with warmth while they themselves work in an environment devoid of it, their contribution remaining largely unrecognized and undervalued.
