Outputs

Two sets of outputs are envisaged. (i) mobilisation of workers leading to wage hike and improvement in working and living conditions (ii) linkage with public service like education, health, early child hood care, and others.

Release of workers from bondage: Most of the workers in the brick kilns are under debt bondage. The employers advance money to the workers before the season starts and then force them to work through the season lasting 6 to 8 months at sub optimal wages. The settlement of wages is done at the end of the season. If workers try to leave early, the back wages are not paid.

Payment of back wages: There are frequent conflicts in brick kilns over payment of wages. It is expected that these cases will come to the Union.

Increase in wages: The ultimate objective is to hike wages that is possible only after sufficient collectivization has taken place. The interventions will move towards collective bargaining. Normally workers have to strike work before the employers get ready to negotiate.

Linking the children with education: The workers migrate to the kilns with the families that include children of school going age from 6-14 years. The children need to be linked to schooling. This is possible by either opening hostels in their home villages where they can stay or by linking them to a school in the destination areas. Both the options are not easy. However the Indian state is committed to provide schooling to every child of school going age under the Right to Education Act.

Linking under age children with early childhood care services: The state also promises every child under six years of age early childhood services that includes supplementary feeding. Malnutrition is very common in India. Attempts will be made to introduce these services in kilns.

Linkage with health services: The brick kilns are like semi permanent villages with a large number of resident families. However the public health system does not reach out to these workers. The project will undertake advocate with Health Department to include the kiln workers in their service coverage.

The number of beneficiaries, expected monetary benefits in pound sterling (at Indian Rs. 75 to one UK sterling) for a cluster of 50 kilns is given in the table below

Table: Benefits created

Budget  (costs in UK sterling at current rate of Rs. 78 to one UK sterling)