In March, a joint investigation by The New York Times and The Fuller Project exposed the dark reality behind sugarcane production in Maharashtra, India. The report revealed widespread practices of debt bondage, coerced hysterectomies, child labor, and child marriage—tainting some of our favorite foods like Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. Another report showed children were trafficked from other parts of India to endure grueling work in the sugarcane fields. But the cherry on top was the complete lack of accountability from all involved parties, including the government. Today, we learn why this impunity persists.

“No one is on our side”

In Maharashtra, sugar is a powerful industry tightly controlled by sitting lawmakers or political figures, with major buyers like Coca-Cola and Pepsi. The investigation revealed that many of the state’s sugar mills are run by politicians, including 21 state lawmakers, national Parliament members, ministers, and former officials from various parties. Many other mills, though not directly run by the government, maintain business or family ties with politicians and lawmakers.

This widespread political involvement means that those in positions to protect workers are often the ones benefiting from their exploitation. This year, both Coca-Cola and Pepsico pledged to investigate abuses identified in their supply chains, but they have provided no detail on what steps they have taken.

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