The Little Rann of Kutch is a saltmarsh desert and a Wild Ass Sanctuary in the western state of India, Gujarat. It is home to a community of traditional salt harvesters ‘Agariyas’ belonging to denotified tribe Chuvalia Koli, socially stigmatized, producing salt through solar evaporation of the subsoil brine and raking it in the manmade salt pans in their dwellings. The Agariyas migrate from the nearby villages, taking money from traders, to produce salt crystals in eight months. They set up temporary homes of bamboo and jute and engage in a precarious taskscape (Ingold ,2001) that is devoid of vegetation and drinking water. They are dependent on the unpredictable and fluctuating environmental conditions of the desert to have a continuous supply of subsoil brine and constantly adapt to changing conditions, such as shifts in wind patterns and rains, changes in temperature, and fluctuations in the water table, to successfully produce salt. Drawing data from the ethnographic fieldwork of eight months in the desert in 2022, the paper discusses the environmental resilience of salt harvesters through their labour and lived experiences of dwelling in the desert. Landless Agariyas through their symbolic and cultural practices create a deep connection with the Rann; crucial for their livelihood and cultural identity; that exemplifies sustainable living and challenges the ‘normal’ conditions of living outside the desert. The study contributes to a broader understanding of dwelling and labor practices of communities that are constantly adapting to changing environments for sustainable future of their livelihood.
