Why People Risk Their Lives To Make Millions of Glass Bangles In India

Crafting a single glass bangle involves the effort of dozens of artisans. Within blazing hot furnaces, the glass melts to a thin, water-like consistency. However, the work is perilous.

Workers endure temperatures soaring up to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit throughout their day. In Firozabad, India, the world's largest bangle manufacturer, Satyanarayan Glass Works, produces an astonishing 1.2 million bangles daily. But why do artisans still use this risky method?

Vimal Kumar Yadiv has spent 17 years at the factory. The process begins with sifting silica sand, the primary bangle ingredient, and adding recycled glass scraps like broken bottles. The factory floor, filled with fine glass particles, requires constant sweeping by women. Unfortunately, these glass shards pose significant health risks, potentially causing vision damage and respiratory issues, exacerbated by the lack of masks. Studies indicate that 23% of bangle workers suffer from chronic bronchitis.

The glass mixture undergoes melting in furnaces exceeding 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Despite roaring fans, the air remains stifling. Workers persistently hydrate to endure the conditions. Once liquefied after 10 hours, the glass is colored with metals such as lead, cadmium, and mercury, exposing workers to hazardous fumes.

Craftsmen transfer the molten glass to another area, a hazardous task prone to accidents, as noted by Vimal. He operates a machine rolling bangle spirals, a risky job without protective gloves. Factory owner Anshul Gupta acknowledges that while machines could enhance safety, workers have historically rejected them.

The glass bangle industry in Firozabad is also a significant environmental concern. Located 30 miles from the Taj Mahal, the city's factories were blamed for yellowing the iconic monument's marble due to coal emissions. Regulations mandated a switch to natural gas, impacting over 100 workshops and 500,000 craftsmen.

Despite the risks and environmental impact, glass bangles remain Firozabad's primary export, generating $150 million annually. Workers, mostly women, earn about $6 a day, crafting bangles near their workshops. Each bangle is individually heated to bind the glass, often decorated with intricate patterns that can take hours to complete.

Ornamental work extends to homes, where younger family members, despite child labor bans, assist in production. Soni Yadiv, 18, and Dali Yadiv, 15, Vimal's daughters, also support the family income.

Vimal, earning roughly $9 a day after an eight-hour shift, struggles to support his four children through school. In addition to his factory job, he tends buffaloes to supplement income, aspiring to start a milk business.

Despite the inherent risks and minimal wages, Vimal emphasizes the industry's importance to Firozabad's community.