They are among the thousand of families from the Balangir and Nuapada dist of Western Orissa brought to work in the brick kilns in the city and paid a very trivial amount.
"We work from 3 am to 10 pm. If we object to the poor working conditions, we are beaten up badly," said a brick kiln worker. All the labourers in the brick kiln are from tribal regions of Western Orissa and Bihar. They say that the touts keep doing rounds in their States in search of ‘preys’ and bring them to the cities to work as bonded labourers.
"Anyone can enter our houses as there are no doors. The roof (made of hay, leaves and plastic) leaks during rainy season. There is none to listen to our plight," said another labourer.
The workers are paid Rs 50 for every 1,000 bricks they make. It is difficult for an individual to meet the target of 1,000 bricks. In spite of the families roping in children also to work day and night, they hardly achieve their target. Children in the age group of five and 15 work at the brick kilns.
"Here every rule is flouted. Neither Prevention of Child Labour Act nor the Minimum Wages Act is followed. The employers here have not provided basic amenities to the workers," said a social worker living nearby.
The report prepared by the Yelahanka Tahsildar, to be submitted to the government, confirms that minimum wages are not paid to the workers and children are employed here. Workers are deprived of all basic facilities that an employer must provide, the report said.
Wednesday’s incident hasforced the administration out of its deep slumber.
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