Indian sugarcane women face hysterectomies to keep low-pay jobs

Across India's sugarcane fields, women endure 14-hour shifts for wages as low as ₹400, often staying in makeshift camps lacking toilets or clean water. Because missing a single shift can trigger fines and loss of income, several cutters have chosen hysterectomies, believing the removal of their wombs will lessen the physical burden. Savita, who underwent the procedure in March 2025, reports ongoing bleeding and pain a year later, while another worker, Poornima, says she must borrow more money for the surgery.

A 2019 state committee found thousands of migrant women had similar operations, and activists claim private clinics perform them without proper justification, sometimes aided by allegedly paid referrals from ASHA workers. Contractors deny forcing surgery but admit they cannot grant paid leave, as fewer laborers reduce harvest yields. Coca-Cola, partnering with Solidaridad, says its program has provided clean water, sanitation and feminine hygiene supplies to 100,000 workers.