INDIAN INDUSTRIES | Mike Byrne

Whilst living and working in Bangalore in 2008 I spent a lot of time visiting the slum areas of the city. Within those slums I found people living and working in some extremely dangerous and polluted environments. With the help from my colleagues at SPAD, I photographed some of those places and the people that work within them. This series features a cement yard, a tyre factory, a recycling yard, a wood laminates factory and a charitable kitchen that feeds Bangalore’s poor school children. Many thanks to all that were involved.

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Men working at a cement storage yard in Bangalore, South India.

			
			
All day they load and unload bags of cement.

			
			
The toxic cement dust has severe affects their health.  Especially their eyesight.

			
			
These men are processing used rubber that has been imported from the USA. 

			
			
			
			
They feed the used rubber through giant steel rollers until it is soft and malleable.

			
			
			
			
The rubber is then rolled out and cut into the required sizes. 

			
			
Once cut they are rolled, packaged and exported back to the USA where they will be re-tread onto car tyres. 

			
			
This type of factory has no health and safety precaution and are totally unregulated.

			
			
Recycling Factories:  Nothing is wasted in India, anything that can be reused and has value will be.  This is largely a manual process as people collect and sort paper, plastics and other goods.  Many of these people are exposed to dnagerous materials as they break and process.  This is mostly unregulated.

			
			
Recycling Factories:  Nothing is wasted in India, anything that can be reused and has value will be.  This is largely a manual process as people collect and sort paper, plastics and other goods.  Many of these people are exposed to dnagerous materials as they break and process.  This is mostly unregulated.

			
			
Recycling Factories:  Nothing is wasted in India, anything that can be reused and has value will be.  This is largely a manual process as people collect and sort paper, plastics and other goods.  Many of these people are exposed to dnagerous materials as they break and process.  This is mostly unregulated.

			
			
Recycling Factories:  Nothing is wasted in India, anything that can be reused and has value will be.  This is largely a manual process as people collect and sort paper, plastics and other goods.  Many of these people are exposed to dnagerous materials as they break and process.  This is mostly unregulated.

			
			
Recycling Factories:  Nothing is wasted in India, anything that can be reused and has value will be.  This is largely a manual process as people collect and sort paper, plastics and other goods.  Many of these people are exposed to dnagerous materials as they break and process.  This is mostly unregulated.

			
			
Recycling Factories:  Nothing is wasted in India, anything that can be reused and has value will be.  This is largely a manual process as people collect and sort paper, plastics and other goods.  Many of these people are exposed to dnagerous materials as they break and process.  This is mostly unregulated.

			
			
Recycling Factories:  Nothing is wasted in India, anything that can be reused and has value will be.  This is largely a manual process as people collect and sort paper, plastics and other goods.  Many of these people are exposed to dnagerous materials as they break and process.  This is mostly unregulated.

			
			
Recycling Factories:  Nothing is wasted in India, anything that can be reused and has value will be.  This is largely a manual process as people collect and sort paper, plastics and other goods.  Many of these people are exposed to dnagerous materials as they break and process.  This is mostly unregulated.

			
			
Wood Laminate Factory:  These boys are pressing wood laminates by hand. Their products will be packed and shipped around the world.  These smalls scale factories are unregulated.

			
			
Wood Laminate Factory:  These boys are pressing wood laminates by hand. Their products will be packed and shipped around the world.  These smalls scale factories are unregulated.

			
			
Wood Laminate Factory:  These boys are pressing wood laminates by hand. Their products will be packed and shipped around the world.  These smalls scale factories are unregulated.

			
			
Wood Laminate Factory:  These boys are pressing wood laminates by hand. Their products will be packed and shipped around the world.  These smalls scale factories are unregulated.

			
			
Wood Laminate Factory:  These boys are pressing wood laminates by hand. Their products will be packed and shipped around the world.  These smalls scale factories are unregulated.

			
			
The Samarthanam Kitchens:  These men prepare lunch for 35,000 school children each day.  The state does not provide lunch so the childred rely on charitable donation to fund the Samarthanam Kitchen.  These men start work in the middle of the nigh to produce the tons on rice, daal and sambar required.

			
			
The Samarthanam Kitchens:  These men prepare lunch for 35,000 school children each day.  The state does not provide lunch so the childred rely on charitable donation to fund the Samarthanam Kitchen.  These men start work in the middle of the nigh to produce the tons on rice, daal and sambar required.

			
			
The Samarthanam Kitchens:  These men prepare lunch for 35,000 school children each day.  The state does not provide lunch so the childred rely on charitable donation to fund the Samarthanam Kitchen.  These men start work in the middle of the nigh to produce the tons on rice, daal and sambar required.

			
			
The Samarthanam Kitchens:  These men prepare lunch for 35,000 school children each day.  The state does not provide lunch so the childred rely on charitable donation to fund the Samarthanam Kitchen.  These men start work in the middle of the nigh to produce the tons on rice, daal and sambar required.

			
			
The Samarthanam Kitchens:  These men prepare lunch for 35,000 school children each day.  The state does not provide lunch so the childred rely on charitable donation to fund the Samarthanam Kitchen.  These men start work in the middle of the nigh to produce the tons on rice, daal and sambar required.