Study points to lack of basic facilities for brick kiln workers in Gujarat

According to the research,these workers,either Dalits or from the Scheduled Caste communities,live in dismal conditions — deprived of essential medical,academic and housing amenities.

There are 35,000 brick kiln units which employ 90 per cent of the workforce from other states,the report says. So even if the workers possess ration cards,they are unable to enjoy the benefits as the cards are registered in their home state. Besides,their families also live in unhygienic conditions and the children have no access to education,the findings reveal.

Jagdish Bagel,from Chhattisgarh,at present working in a brick kiln in Adalaj said: “We don’t have proper water facilities and we source drinking water from the work sites,sharing it with stray animals as well.”

The brick kiln units,the majority of which are unregistered,pay meagre wages to the workers. The wages apart,illegal deductions are also made by the employer,if owing to weather,production work stops,the survey says.

There is no written documentation of contract and payments. So,verbal assurances by the contractors are easily altered,adding to the woes of the worker families,the study further says.

Sudhir Katiar,the project director at Prayas has now called for recommendations to improve the conditions of the brick kiln workers. “The findings have been submitted to the Labour Department already,but the department cannot alone address the miseries of the workers. A multi-pronged approach by various departments like Health,Education,Law,and Women and Children,is required to improve their lot,” he said.