November 4th- The Indian festival of lights is celebrated with grandeur in every home complete with the burning of fireworks, rich food and new clothes. However, this period is the worst time for the 50,000 to 100,000 child workers working in the 2,700 to 3,000 match and fireworks units in Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu and the innumerable other child workers in other firework factories in India. The Sivakasi firework factories alone produce 90% of India's fireworks and 75% of it's matches. There are as many as 6000 unregistered "safety-match" industries in and around Sivakasi.

 It is estimated that 55 percent of the workers are below 14 years. Many begin working at age five to seven. Children dye outer paper, roll gunpowder, make firecrackers, dip material into chemicals, and pack the final products for seven to twelve hours a day every day. They work in cramped, dark sheds in crouched positions and are exposed to dangerous chemicals such as chlorates, phosphorous and sulphur. There is a constant risk of fire and explosions, yet the children wear no protective gear. Local doctors report that children suffer from chronic bronchitis, broncho-pneumonia, tuberculosis, malnutrition, gastrointestinal disorders, skin disorders, over-exhaustion, burns, water borne diseases and eye infections. Harsh treatment by employers is common, and girls as young as seven and eight are reportedly sexually assaulted by supervisors outside of factory premises. 

September 1995, 23 children were charred to death in a firework factory near Calcutta in India. Instances of this kind are not rare. However, in spite of reoccurrences, nothing has changed, little hands still continue to make diwali crackers.