hildren working at brick kilns face a myriad of challenges that put their futures at risk. Born in marginalised families engaged in this industry for generations, they are forced to struggle for survival from a very tender age. Their destinies are intrinsically connected to the circumstances they are born in.

In the vicinity of Umerkot city, within a five-kilometre radius, lies a network of nearly 70 brick kilns. These kilns have traditionally been operated by the hardworking Oad community. Bheel, Kolhi and some other casts, too, work here. All their children remain deprived of education.

The distressing cycle begins at birth, as infants are raised in the challenging environment of brick kilns. Surrounded by dust, exposed to smoke emitted by burning plastic and forced to breathe polluted air, these children face numerous health challenges. There are recurring skin problems, contributing to a persistent darkening of complexion. Women endure difficult pregnancies in the absence of essential prenatal care, while toiling tirelessly throughout the day. The children are often born with low birth weight and anaemia.

A significant problem faced by the workers is the lack of educational facilities. There are very few schools in the area and those are not easily accessible. As a result, most of the children never go to school. Instead, they find themselves engaged in manual labour alongside their parents.

A significant proportion of the labour force in the kiln areas resides in substandard housing. Approximately 80 percent live in mud houses or huts. The remaining live in semi-pakka structures. This exposes their children to numerous environment-related issues, posing serious challenges to their health and well-being.

In brick kilns around Umerkot, families of workers lack the leisure to plan their children’s future. They always find themselves in a cycle of poverty and exploitation. One of the main issues faced by the parents of children working in brick kilns is a lack of awareness regarding their children’s future. These parents work long hours in physically demanding conditions, leaving them exhausted and with little time and energy to focus on matters beyond immediate survival. They have had limited access to education themselves. As a result, many do not fully comprehend the importance of education and its potential to break the cycle of poverty for their children.

The meager wages paid to brick kiln workers often fall below what is legally recognised as a living wage. This leaves them struggling to meet their basic needs. The lack of financial stability and the constant struggle to make ends meet make it challenging for these parents to think beyond their immediate circumstances. Many brick kiln workers find themselves trapped in bonded labour, where they are indebted to the kiln owners due to advances and loans obtained to meet their basic needs. This dependency limits their ability to make independent decisions and hampers their efforts to seek alternative employment and improve their living conditions.

In the neighboring India, a non-profit organisation called the Brick Kiln Workers’ Welfare Association (BKWWA) under the support of their government has launched a project to support children of brick kiln workers by providing education and basic facilities. They have established mobile schools near brick kilns to ensure children receive a formal education and have an opportunity to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty. Besides, there are many government initiatives to improve other basic facilities for these children. Collaborations with local philanthropists to provide access to clean drinking water, sanitation facilities and basic healthcare services have sensitised brick kiln worker parents to think about their children’s future.

In Umerkot, as well as some other districts, there is dire need to replicate the best practices and formulate comprehensive roadmaps at district level, highlighting collaborations between district administrations, tehsil level officers (assistant commissioners), Police Department, local governments, UC level leaders and child protection units.

A critical aspect is getting brick kiln workers to send their children to school. The district administration, in collaboration with the Education Department, and local civil society organisations, should undertake awareness raising campaigns to educate families about the importance of education for their children’s future. Additionally, efforts should be made to provide facilities like mobile schools and evening schools to create an environment conducive to learning.

District authorities should direct and instruct the Police Department and the Child Protection Unit to reduce the prevalence of child labour at brick kilns. Collaborative efforts between relevant authorities will play a crucial role in discouraging this practice and safeguarding the rights of children.

There is a need to devise realistic strategies to promote the growth of child labourers, particularly orphans in brick kiln areas. The government of Sindh should allocate special funds to support these children and provide financial assistance to ensure their well-being. Such measures will enable them to pursue better opportunities and break the cycle of poverty.

Efforts should be made to provide accessible healthcare services, including regular check-ups, vaccination and treatment for prevalent waterborne diseases and other outbreaks in these areas.

The prevalence of child labour in brick kilns demands immediate attention. These children deserve a better chance at a normal, healthy and fulfilling life.

The writer is based in Umerkot. He has over 13 years of experience in the development sector. He can be reached at shewaram@live.com