BRICK KILN

LIFE AT A BRICK KILN

During November when the cold has just begun to set in, thousands of Indian and Nepalese alike travel to work at the brick kilns in the various parts of Nepal. The workers from different parts have specific tasks to perform. Laborers from Kavre, Sindupalchowk, Ramechhap, and Hetauda make raw bricks in the field. Laborers from West Nepal, especially from Dang, Salyan, Rolpa, and Rukum transport raw bricks from the fields to the brick kiln for combustion. Finally, the Indians are responsible for the technical tasks, such as combusting bricks, and looking after the kiln besides loading combusted bricks onto the trucks to transport them.

Padam Bahadur, along with his wife and four of their five children traveled for the third time to work at a brick kiln at Nalinchowk. Padam and his wife begin their day as early as three in the morning as their goal is to make around 150,000 bricks during their time at the kiln. One raw brick is worth 65 paisa.

Padam continues to return to the brick kiln year after year because he makes a decent amount to take care of his family. “I also get some money in advance for which I don’t have to pay any interest,’ said Padam who has received Rs. 60,000 as advance this time around. Sudan Bisle(BK), 16, from Dang, was attracted by the same scheme which allowed workers to get loans before drawing their actual salary.

“I don’t have any work at home, and at least here, I can earn a little to feed my family,’ he said.

Similar are the stories of most of the laborers who come to work at the brick kilns during the harsh winter months. During winter, when there is now work at home in their respective villages, working at bricks kilns seems to be a good albeit tedious job option for many.

The workers not only have to endure long hours at the factories but they also have to face various health hazards due to direct contact with smoke and dust particles. They work for more than 14 hours every day and in return have very less to show for the efforts they put in and the risks they undertake.