A deeply disturbing revelation has emerged from Beed district, often referred to as the hub of sugarcane workers in Maharashtra. According to reports, 843 women from the region have had their wombs surgically removed before heading to work in sugarcane fields.
This alarming statistic has drawn widespread concern from social workers and health officials. Most of the women who underwent hysterectomies fall within the 30 to 35 age group, raising serious questions about the underlying causes and pressures driving these medical procedures.
Every year, approximately 1.75 lakh laborers from Beed migrate for seasonal sugarcane harvesting. Disturbingly, it has also been revealed that 1,523 women are currently working in the fields while pregnant—highlighting the severe socio-economic and health challenges faced by female laborers.
As part of routine health checks conducted before and after the sugarcane harvesting season, many of these women have been found to be suffering from a range of health issues. Activists and health experts are now calling for a thorough investigation into the widespread hysterectomies and the working conditions of women laborers in the region.