Key Points:
Workers at the BAPS Akshardham temple in New Jersey allege exploitation, including 90-hour work weeks and wages as low as $1.20/hour.
At least two laborers reportedly died from silicosis, with others diagnosed with tuberculosis and chronic respiratory illnesses.
Dalit workers from Rajasthan claim they were denied proper PPE, medical care, and faced restricted movement and communication.
Allegations include misuse of R-1 religious visas under the guise of “Seva,” with a 2021 federal probe removing 90 workers.
BAPS denies all claims, while a civil lawsuit continues as workers seek compensation and accountability.
New Jersey: At the heart of suburban Robbinsville, New Jersey, stands one of the largest modern Hindu temples outside India a sprawling 185-acre complex built with hand-carved stone from Rajasthan.
While the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham temple has captivated global audiences with its intricate craftsmanship and viral social media presence, workers behind its construction allege a troubling story of exploitation, unsafe labor conditions, and serious health consequences.
According to multiple workers who spoke in interviews with The Guardian, the temple’s construction between 2015 and 2023 came at a significant human cost. Allegations include worker abuse, visa fraud, medical neglect, and exposure to hazardous conditions that reportedly led to life-threatening illnesses such as silicosis.
Workers and labor advocates familiar with court documents state that at least two laborers, Ramesh Meena and Devi Lal died after developing silicosis, an irreversible lung disease caused by inhaling fine silica dust during stone carving.
Lal reportedly died while waiting for a lung transplant. Workers also reported diagnoses of tuberculosis and chronic bronchitis among several laborers.
“A person would prefer committing suicide rather than dying from silicosis because it’s such a painful death,” said a former BAPS temple worker who developed tuberculosis, in an interview with The Guardian. “The breathing problem is so bad that you really pray for the person to die, so that he can be at peace.”
Symptoms of silicosis include persistent cough, chest pain, fatigue, and severe breathlessness, often leading to disability or premature death.
Approximately 200 workers, most of them Dalits from Rajasthan, traveled to the United States to work on the temple. Dalits, historically marginalized within India’s caste system, often perform hazardous and low-paid labor.
Workers alleged that despite building the temple, their caste status would traditionally prevent them from worshipping in such spaces.
Experts highlight that such exploitation reflects longstanding systemic inequalities. Human rights attorney Gunjan Singh told The Guardian that despite the Bonded Labor Act of 1976, enforcement remains weak, leaving vulnerable communities trapped in cycles of exploitation. Singh described the situation as “modern slavery.”
Workers claimed they worked up to 90 hours per week for wages as low as $1.20 per hour. According to the complaint, authorities confiscated passports and restricted communication with families.
“I saw my kids growing up on the phone,” one worker said in an interview, adding that he had not seen his family for seven years.
In another case, a worker’s roommate died by suicide after returning to India. His family attributed his death to depression and harsh working conditions.
“No one contacted us or helped us at the time of this tragedy,” Ankush Kumar, son of the deceased worker, said in a message. “Since then, life has been really hard for me, I’ve had to give up my full-time education to start earning.”
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Workers alleged they did not receive adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) while handling silica-heavy stone. Many said they were provided only surgical or cloth masks, despite U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines requiring N95 masks for such exposure.
Some workers claimed they developed silicosis despite being medically cleared before employment.
“The moment they found anyone developing a fever, coughing, respiration breathing problems, they send them back [to India] right away,” one worker said.
Others described being forced to work in extreme weather without rest.
“They didn’t give us a single day off, no matter how much it snowed. They even made us work in the snow,” said another worker diagnosed with silicosis.
Workers also alleged limited access to independent healthcare, stating that on-site medical facilities discouraged outside treatment. Several reported receiving medications without proper explanation.
Workers claimed the organization used the R-1 religious visa program intended for religious workers to facilitate labor under the guise of “Seva” or voluntary religious service.
“There is no such thing as Seva,” one worker with silicosis said, alleging the concept was misused to justify labor conditions.
In 2021, federal agents removed 90 workers from the site amid allegations of forced labor. The U.S. Department of Justice later closed its criminal investigation in September without filing charges. However, a civil lawsuit remains active and is expected to proceed.
BAPS representatives have strongly denied the allegations. In a statement to The Guardian, Darshan Patel, a volunteer and media representative, said:
“The allegations in the civil lawsuit are wrong.”
He added that workers received housing, meals, flights, medical care, insurance, and communication access. Patel emphasized that participation in the temple’s construction was rooted in spiritual service.
“The health and safety of the volunteers was a priority,” Patel said. “The construction of the mandir was an opportunity to contribute to something bigger than yourself.”
Silicosis remains a major occupational health issue in India, particularly among lower-caste workers in industries involving stone and mining. In 2024, India’s Supreme Court expanded the scope of a long-standing petition addressing silicosis and labor protections nationwide.
As the civil case resumes, workers are seeking back pay and compensation for alleged harm. Some are also calling for stricter regulation or even a ban on R-1 visas to prevent misuse.
For many, however, the issue goes beyond legal outcomes.
As one worker told:
“People appreciate the art but they don’t know the blood.”