Karimnagar: Migrant labour exploited

 

Authorities of this department intensify inspections only when a tragic incident is reported when media glare is on this sector. 

Around 200 registered kilns are being operated in district, as per information provided by the labour department. But, there are over 100 unregistered kilns across the district.

 

Usually, brick industry registers brisk business during winter and summer season. So, owners of brick kilns rely on migrant labourers from Madhya Pradesh, Chhat-tisgarh, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha as they can be hired by paying meagre wages. They deploy supervisors, locally called munsi, for engaging the workers of these states in various jobs at the kilns by paying bulk amounts. Apparently, owners of these kilns do not follow provisions of the Building and Other Constructions Act, 1996 and the Inter-state Migrant Workmen (regulation of employment and Conditions of service) Act, 1979. It is learnt that they offer monthly mamools to officials of the labour, revenue and police department for extending support in running the kilns.

 

For instance, the management does not offer minimum wages to the migrant workers. “Supervisors promise a couple Rs 15,000 for a period of eight months when hiring.

 

They dupe the workers after bringing them. Labourers work for over eight hours per day, from 4 am to 11 pm with few breaks,” said Madana Kumaraswamy, general secretary of Civil Liberties.

 

 

The arrested included Babburi Shyam Kumar, owner of the kiln, a native of Peddapalli town and supervisors — Udab Maaji, Anthuram Sunani, Dhananjay Jagath. 

 

All of the supervisors belong to Seenapalli in Napad district of Odisha. Peddapall S-I A. Jaganmohan said that the four were booked under Section 304 Part II of the Indian Penal Code.