Khammam was dubbed one of Telangana's three "most-backward" districts earlier this year. The nature of work in the district varies an immense amount. From small-scale farming and industrial units to larger, corporate industrial setups, work in Khammam is rooted in agrarian economies. While some break this mould, entrepreneurship in the service industry is limited.

The following photos were taken as a part of the Asian College of Journalism's 'Covering Deprivation' course in January 2019, and explore the nature of work in the district.

Cotton was heavily endorsed by the state government this winter. While cotton is usually a Kharif (summer-monsoon) crop, conditions in Telangana are suitable for its growth even in January. In addition to this, cotton cultivation is not water intensive. A dearth of water this winter meant that the state had even more reason to push for cotton growth.

Bala (left) and Lata (right) both work as agricultural labourers in the village of Suryatanda, and spent this season cultivating cotton. They make around Rs.100 less per day than the men who work the same fields and do the same amount of work.

Chilli cultivation also does not require as much water as other crops. But regardless of the state of water in Telangana, chillies are always cultivated in large quantities. They are bundled together and taken to open markets where they are sold en masse. 

The Field Tiger plant in Kusumanchi fabricates implements to be fitted on to machines for special agricultural use. The owner, Sri Laxman Rao, does not feel strongly about safety concerns. Not everyone who works with machinery has the right equipment to ensure their safety. The moment I started asking questions about safety and adequate lighting, I was escorted out of the plant. Salim Khan, the plant's foreman, does not believe that Rao has done anything incorrect by not providing safety equipment, as nobody has complained yet.

Small scale brick kilns like this one in Gattusinhara are usually family-run operations with next to no formal structures. These kilns, for the most part, work on cash-based transactions. Gopi (pictured above) and their family bake around 2000 bricks a day and lay out the next day's batch while the kiln is going. The kiln of bricks they set up to bake more bricks is good for about a month before they have to dismantle it and build a new one. 

Rice mills like this one in Chegomma work through the year. They process and package rice for farmers so that they can sell it. This is only half of the business though as they also rent a harvester and combine. These rented machines are provided to small famers who do not have machines of their own.