Little Rann of Kutch (LRK) lies in 5 districts of Gujarat, where more than one lakh people are engaged in salt farming. This is also known as the land of the Agariyas, who have lived here for centuries, knowing just one means of livelihood – salt farming. Besides, another tribal community named Koli, numerically the largest group but economically marginalized, was labelled as Denotified tribe by the Britishers in 1870 through criminal tribes' act, now all of them are still away from the fundamental rights to their paternal land.

Working day in day out under a ferocious sun from October to February, these people harvest more than 75 percent of India’s total salt produce. The adverse natural situations, tedious salt making process, and the market shifts in terms of price for salt also directly affects the Agariyas. Marine salt work that is largely mechanized is affecting the livelihoods of these inland salt farmers. Owing to such adverse circumstances, they are bound to face all the wrong reasons in life. Now, the matter of wildlife protection, the Agariyas are unable to cope up with the situation since all these are man-made.

Little Rann of Kutch, a mudflat ecosystem, which is habitat of Indian wild ass as well as blue bulls (Nilgai) and smaller predators such as jungle cats and foxes. It is also one of the hotspots of wetland birds. Way back, LRK was notified as a sanctuary in 1973 for the nearly extinct Indian Wild Ass (Khur), jackals, wild foxes, desert wolves, antelopes and many native and migratory birds and a world heritage site by UNESCO. In the past, due to consecutive outbreaks of diseases like Surra and South African horse sickness, the population of Khur dwindled to as low as 700 in the 1960s-70s. Though, in 2006 the salt workers received eviction notices from the state forest department, the Agariyas still argue that they have been here for centuries, and are vulnerable without any land deeds. Since the designation of the wild ass sanctuary in 1972, the population of wild asses has risen from a meagre 362 till over 4,000 individuals.

Salt working has endured in this region for over a century. Interactions with salt workers in the landscape clearly point to one fact—that they are all farming salt illegally since none of the land on which salt is currently farmed has any lease orders. There may be some cases of leases that are yet to expire. Also there has not been any renewal of lease since 1985. And now leases cannot be renewed as the Apex Court has ruled in the PIL filed by T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad that forests should not be converted for non-forestry purposes. However, it could be the case that illegal salt farming could pertain to farms that fall outside lease areas.

Most lease orders have expired long back or have not been renewed so far. But since no settlement/demarcation processes were undertaken this activity continues. Despite no tenure over the land on which most salt workers farm, they continue their activity for lack of any other options. The workers, more importantly, are a politically backed group who quite well know that they cannot be easily stopped from undertaking the activity. The saltpans constructed by salt farmers are said to destroy its biodiversity, so salt production in the Little Rann is a double-edged sword.

However, the ecosystem services of this region are gradually threatened by upstream hydrological regime changes. By increasing alteration and diversion including storage of water from the catchment into dams and for the purpose of irrigation, the seasonal course of freshwater into the LRK is getting reduced year by year. Further, the blocking of the creeks lessens the essential seawater inflow into the LRK, hence, interrupting the natural interaction between salt production, prawn fishing and the migratory patterns. Without the seasonal water flow dynamics, the LRK fails it’s unique ecological character, and consequently, it’s productivity. Furthermore, receding groundwater levels, combined with debt, diminishing market values as well as a lack of governmental support, are raising questions as to the value of maintaining such an industry in this part of the world. However, the ban would put the lives of over one lakh people and their 400-year-old tradition in immediate danger.

The major objection raised by the government over the lifestyle of local herding communities the Rabari and the Bharwad, the pastoralists in the landscape and are together referred to as Maldharis. They traverse this landscape with their domestic livestock to graze them and the Asiatic wild ass remains highly vulnerable to a disease outbreak as epidemic was believed to be spread through such arrival of strangers. The traditional grazing grounds which are now within sanctuary limits are no longer accessible, and in the consultations, the Maldhaaris, especially the Rabaris, said that they were asked to reduce their livestock holding by the sanctuary managers when the sanctuary was first declared.

Besides, this has also been highlighted in local media from time to time about the excess pesticide and fertilizer laden water from farmlands in bordering area villages is often let out into this vast ‘wasteland’. The experts explain this practice causes artificial flooding. The professionals indicate the wildlife drinks the same accumulated toxic water.

Considering only conservation of flora and fauna of this region, the policy makers are willingly or unwillingly ignoring the existence of local human beings, more than 60 percent live below poverty line. The production average of salt is 12-15 tons every 15 days from each of the saltpans and is sent to salt companies and chemical factories across the country. The Agariyas earn a paltry sum of INR 24 per ton. The low incomes and lack of education facilities in the barren desert of the Rann offer less chances for the children of salt pan workers to escape a vicious cycle of poverty and poor health. The salt workers remain generationally indebted to the salt merchants.

Now they are left to the whims of the wholesalers, who do not pay any reasonable or competitive prices. The farmers continue to be involved in this activity for lack of any other livelihood. This is one of the primary reasons that makes the salt farmers most vulnerable. Thus, to guarantee a secured livelihood base for the Agariyas, issues related to either legalizing the activity or providing for sustainable alternatives need to be explored. The central government must intervene in this respect.

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