This report examines working conditions in 18 granite quarries in 2 South Indian states, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, producing both for domestic and export markets...In the surveyed quarries...most workers are kept bonded to the quarry through debt. About 54 percent of the local workers and 66 percent of the migrant workers inter- viewed, reported that they owe large sums of money to quarry owners or contractors...presence of children at quarry sites, lack of safety measures and poor facilities for migrant workers were observed...More than ninety percent of the workers in sample quarries are hired on an informal basis without any written contracts...Another research finding is the prevalence of gender based wage discrimination...Workplace safety measures are almost always inadequate. Workers are exposed to occupational hazards like silica dust, explosions and moving of heavy stones.