Documentary highlights plight of children at brick kilns

BHUBANESWAR: The harrowing tales of the children of migrant labourers, who are forced to go to different brick kilns outside the state to earn a living, are what a short documentary has tried to reflect.
The documentary, named "Migrating Children", produced by NGO Aide et Action, was released here on Monday. The documentary not only focuses on the plight of the migrants, but has also tried to provide solutions to stop children from being deprived of basic facilities at work places.
In the 18-minute documentary, the children have shared their plight. "We have tried to show how the children live in extremely unhealthy conditions. They get diseases because of malnutrition and generation of dust. They are deprived of immunization and education facilities," said regional head (migration thematic unit) of the NGO Umi Daniel.
According to the NGO, of the nearly 2 lakh migrant labourers going to brick kilns, children constitute 15 per cent. "Since the families have to take their children with them, there should be collaborative ways to provide basic facilities to the children. The state governments (both where the migrants work and from where they go), brick kiln owners and NGO should coordinate to provide the required facilities," said the NGO's programme officer Saroj Barik.
He said their organization and Bernard Van Leer Foundation (BVLF), which is working for the welfare of children, have constructed heat resistance houses at brick kilns in Andhra Pradesh. "How heat resistance houses are providing much-needed relief has also been shown in the documentary. A team of Andhra government officials visited the brick kilns to inspect some model houses so that they can emulate the model and construct similar houses for the families of migrant labourers," said Barik.
"We have constructed model houses for about 12 families where 50 children can be accommodated. The houses have been made of local materials, which can bear the heat," said Daniel.
The Western Odisha has been grappling with migration problems for more than a decade despite introduction of job guarantee scheme NGNREGS. More than 1.5 lakh people from western Odisha migrate to different brick kilns of Andhra Pradesh for brick making between November to June. Balangir, Nuapada and Kalahandi districts record highest number of people migrating.