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Brick kiln workers’ misery to end
Now with Karimnagar being split into four districts, a more focused approach on the issue is expected from the administration. While the undivided district had about 2oo-odd brick kiln industries, now the district is left with little over 50 kilns. The number of workers is over 5,000 and majority of them migrated from Odisha.
Karimnagar: The misery of workers associated with the brick kiln industry, one of the perennial problems the region has, will soon be tackled effectively. The new district administration headed by the young Collector Sarfaraz Ahmed has plans to erase the memories of past events in which a pregnant migrant labourer was allegedly beaten to death and two migrant labourers died under suspicious circumstance.
Now with Karimnagar being split into four districts, a more focused approach on the issue is expected from the administration. While the undivided district had about 2oo-odd brick kiln industries, now the district is left with little over 50 kilns. The number of workers is over 5,000 and majority of them migrated from Odisha. However, the authorities claim that they have been conducting raids, it’s apparent that almost all the kilns are functioning without complying with the labour laws. The then Collector Neetu Prasad who noticed the pathetic living conditions of the workers had warned the kiln managements of stringent action besides cancelling their licences. Besides attacks against the workers, the owners also blatantly violated the Minimum Wage Act and Migrant Workers Act.
Though the brick kiln workers are supposed to get Rs 454 per 1,000 bricks under the Act, it remained a mirage. With the brick kiln labourers set to return to work after Deepavali from their native places, the new Collector Sarfaraz has summoned all the brick kiln owners to his office on Saturday to review the situation. He reportedly told them to mend their ways or face the music if they continue to fail to provide proper facilities to workers.
Speaking to The Hans India, Sarfaraz Ahmed said: “The issue will be dealt with an iron hand if the labourers were not provided with proper facilities such as shelter, healthcare, safe drinking water, crèche and schools. If the payment is not done through bank accounts of the workers, it will be treated as not paid,” he said. Payment for working overtime will also be ensured, he added.Stating that focus is on to supervise the kilns at regular intervals, he also stressed the need of registering the names of migrant workers and their children with the labour department and local police stations.
