This study aims to provide a clearer picture of gender roles, issues and concerns in the artisanal and small mines1 (ASM) sector in India. Women constitute a large segment of workers
in the informal2 mines all over the world. In India, however, the patriarchal social structure tends to obscure the contributions made by the women workers in these mines. This exploratory
research addresses this gap in existing knowledge and leads to engendering the development initiatives in small mines and quarries in the country. Women workers in the informal mines all
over the world form the proverbial