Social exclusion based on caste, frequent droughts, lack of employment opportunities and unproductive agricultural land are the factors that lead to the seasonal migration of marginalised communities from the Marathwada region to western Maharashtra to take up cane-cutting work during harvesting season. The Informal system of hiring through labour intermediaries has resulted in severe exploitation of women’s cane cutters as they are forced to live in makeshift tents with no basic water or sanitation facilities for women. The reluctance from the labour intermediaries to hire menstruating workers forces women to go through needless hysterectomies for fear of losing work. This is an alarming situation adversely affecting the reproductive health of women cane cutters which are the backbone of the sugarcane industry in Maharashtra.

When a global health crisis hits, the headlines scream about overwhelmed hospitals, economic downturns, and political turmoil. But beneath the surface lies a tragic and overlooked story, one of women forced to bear the brunt of systemic neglect, societal stigma, and invisible suffering.

Dr Reuben Ng is an Assistant Professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, and a behavioural scientist who also spent 16 years in government consulting and research. He's an expert in ageism, social gerontology, and quantitative social science. It's in that context that we spoke to him about the ongoing longevity revolution and how our AI and agency are helping to reframe ageing in a positive light. Thank you for joining us. Could you start by just telling us how you describe the longevity revolution?

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