RANN OF KUTCH, India -- In the white clay of a salt marsh in northwest India, Raja Rahim Sultan was ankle-deep in brine when he collapsed.

A couple of Agariya salt workers, barefoot and barehanded, do some heavy lifting under a scorching sun. Salt crystals cut through the skin, leading to high blood pressure, blockages and heart attacks, medical officials say. (Photo by Rohit Jain)
Intensive labor in extreme weather brings meager wages as exports, corporate profits pile up