Building a Future for Brick Kiln Children in India

Sumit is 11 years old and lives at a brick kiln in dusty rural Maharashtra with his two sisters and his parents. Their lives reflect the difficult intergenerational trap that many families face.  His parents were married when they were teenagers. His mother was just 13 years old and his father 15 years old. Child marriage is illegal in India. Despite this 47% girls are still married before the age of 18. His mother is a bright, confident and outspoken woman who never had the opportunity to go to school. His Dad was only able to go to school until the age of 10.

This is the first year that the family have ever worked at a brick kiln. Prior to this, they were doing low paid, insecure labouring work on other people's farms. This work was irregular and they were only able to find employment during the harvest season, so the family was struggling to meet their basic needs. The family were forced to come to the brick kiln after the husband's father forced them to take out a loan to pay for another son's debt. This loan was for Rs.35000 ($500), more than the family's annual income. Sumit's grandfather was also an irregular brick kiln worker, working to pay back loans the family took out in times of necessity. 

The family have to make 1100 bricks per day six days per week, but the owner only counts 1000 bricks a day.  The family are only paid at the end of the season and have no idea how much they will be paid. They think they will receive Rs1 per brick. The owner makes all kinds of deductions for expenses whilst the family are living at the brick kiln, so they have no idea whether their work will enable the loan to be repaid by the end of the season.

Sumit's mother says that the work is extremely difficult, much harder than she had ever imagined. Their bodies are in continual pain. They are determined that their son doesn't end up a child labourer. She never wants to come back to the brick kiln again.

She is very happy that her son has the opportunity to attend the non-formal school, as she wants her children to have an education.  She blames her lack of education on why they have ended up being stuck in labouring work.Sumit wants to be a policeman and have a good job. His parents have noticed changes in him since he started at the school. He can read and write, he is more disciplined and not wandering around. With such supportive parents, Sumit will hopefully break the cycle of brick kiln indentured labour.