(Documentary in Hindi, English subtitles will be up soon) We go to visit the Aurela Village and other areas in the district of Barabanki in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. The situation of the village was shocking. Children have no access to schools and families are weaving day and night, at times without electricity, on manual hand-loom only for about Rs. 80 a day (USD 2). There is a huge electricity problem which makes it worse for the people to sustain this work and themselves. The village has no schools for children after 8th standard. Less income means that each generation must continue doing this work for the same amount of payment without being able to educate their children further. We ask Rahim who has been weaving for 50 years, about the changes he has seen over time, to which he says, "Times have only become worse for us. We need to work much more to be able to get the same payment now". The community produces scarves, stoles, bed sheets and other artisan garments for the domestic and export market. Ahmed, who has managed to buy a power hand loom, complains, "I made a huge mistake. There is no electricity, which means the machine wouldn't work. And it even consumes oil." These photographs are available to view in HD here http://www.flickr.com/photos/espiritokashi/sets/72157633841018096/

• published: 06 Oct 2013
• views: 51