Sub1521

International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)
ISSN (Online): 2319-7064
Index Copernicus Value (2013): 6.14 | Impact Factor (2013): 4.438
Volume 4 Issue 1, January 2015
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Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY
Socio-Economic Conditions of Female Workers in
Brick Kilns - An Exploitation to Healthy Social
Structure: A Case Study on Khejuri CD Blocks in
Purba Medinipur, West Bengal
Rabin Das
Research Scholar of Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, West Bengal and Assistant Professor of Bajkul Milani Mahavidyalaya,
West Bengal, India
Abstract: Brick Industry is one of the informal/unorganized industries in India. This industry is booming with the expansion of real
estate business. It is a labor intensive industry. The industry employs millions of workers. Sizable portions of the workers are women.
They live in poverty. At work place, they are exploited, deprived and do not get the status which the men workers enjoy. There are varied
natures of problems the women workers are facing now. Their socio-economic conditions cause concerns. In this backdrop, an attempt
has been made to ascertain and examine the socio-economic conditions of women workers engaged in brick kiln factories. The data
collected in this regard have been interpreted through percentage analysis. The entire gamut of discussion reveals that women workers
live in poverty and as a consequence they come to work in brick kilns. They and their children are mostly illiterate. Most of them are
migrants and their land holdings are minimal. Their annual incomes are very small. They are not given the scope of doing skilled work.
Very often they express dissatisfaction on working environments. Working environment needs to be improved so that workingwomen get
motivated and enthused that may result in development of the kilns. Statutory benefits need to be given for their welfare.
Keywords: Brick, Migrant, Real Estate Business, Statutory Benefits, and Unorganized Industry.
1. Introduction
Brick is one of the most important building materials or Unit
of construction in India. Fired clay bricks are produced in
India and about 42,000 small or cottage scale brick kilns and
clamps operate seasonally (CPCB, 1996). As per the latest
estimate annual production of bricks in India is 51,000
million from 45,000 small/cottage scale units distributed
throughout the country and there are 2.5 million workers
employed in the sector.
Workers are one of the pillars of each and every industry.
Needless to mention that a well-clad, well-fed and satisfied,
pleased worker is a plus point to any industry. So the owners
of the industries need to pay attention towards the
development of the workers engaged in the industries.
Known to all that a large numbers of women workers are
affianced in industries. The brick industry is not a special
one. Women comprise a huge part of the Indian population.
They take part in a very important role in developing Indian
economy. Their involvement to the society cannot be
gainsaid. They are the pillars of the families. They clutch the
main key in maintaining their families. They give up their
expensive time in bringing up their siblings. They are
rendering their services in different customs. They are also
working in brick kilns for the maintenance of their families.
Women work in brick kilns for the maintenance of their
families. In order to maintain their families, maintainable
earnings should be provided. Conducive working
environment, healthy industrial relations, welfare facilities
etc need to be extended to the workingwomen. The non-
existence of the above factors may obstruct the resonance
industrial relation, demotivate the workers, create job
dissatisfaction, and increase labour turnover and
absenteeism. No denying the fact that good, favorable socio-
economic condition of the workers may act as a booster,
which in turn may establish congenial industrial relations. In
this backdrop, an attempt has been made to find out the
socio-economic conditions of the women workers engaged
in the selected brick kiln factories.
2. About The Study Area
The territory of Khejuri Block came into existence as a
consequence of coalescence of twin sister islands- Kedagree
and Hijili which emerged as small riverine islands along the
western bank of Hugli estuary. Since then the area has
undergone not only various morphological and
environmental changes throughout its geological history but
also witnessed social, political and economic
transformations under the Mughal, Pathan, Potuguese and
British rules. Its early importance as a trade centre faded out
with gradual decline of the native port of Khejuri in response
to estuarine morphodynamic modifications. All such
transformations have brought about alterations in livelihoods
of the local people and economy of the area under
consideration. In recent years, Brick Manufacturing has
come up as an emerging economy in a big way that provides
livelihood to a considerable proportion of the local
population and has become third largest contributor (after
agriculture and fish farming) to the local economy. It has
grown in fabulous manner in Khejuri Block particularly
during the last decade. More than 80% of the existing kilns
have been developed between 2001 and 2011 along the
banks of rivers, channels and canals. But, this is unfortunate
that with social fragmentation, a no Table number of
women, men and children slave away in the brick fields.
Common to almost all brick kilns is the use of violence, over
or implicit. Women and girls, however, are profoundly
affected. Many girls and young women are raped, numbers
Paper ID: SUB1521 95

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of families are held as virtual slaves, and those who survive
often struggle to overcome poor health, illiteracy and
poverty. This report focusing on the widespread exploitation
of brick making families and reviews the socio-economic
situation of women mainly, although this industry has
generated ample scope for getting jobs of higher wages and
enhanced per capita income of the wage earners.
3. Objectives of the Study
1) To discuss about the Brick Industry in West Bengal and
also in the Study Area, Khejuri;
2) To ascertain and examine the socio-economic conditions
of women workers engaged in brick kilns of Khejuri CD
Blocks;
3) To make concluding remarks for improving the deprived
women status in the study area.
4. Methodology
The article titled “Socio-economic Conditions of Female
Workers in Brick Kilns-An Exploitation to Healthy Social
Structure.”-A Case Study on Khejuri CD Blocks in Purba
Medinipur, West Bengal has been based on primary and
secondary sources of data. Primary data/information has
been collected through interview with the owners and
women workers of the sampled brick kilns throughout about
three and half of the year. These apart, related books,
journals, newspapers, Report of Brick Association and also
different websites have been consulted to make the study an
effective one. The period of study is confined to about four
years i.e. from 2011 to 2014. Percentage analysis has been
used for interpretation of the data collected from field
survey.
5. About the Workers of Brick Industry
Brick making is a traditional industry of West Bengal. Brick
is as old as civilization itself. It dates back to ancient
Mesopotamia around 500 BC. The archeological ruins of
Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa which date back over 4000
years indicate that brick making was well developed in India
in ancient times. The silted topography of the region (West
Bengal) is uniquely suited for making bricks. In the past the
riverine delta region of South Bengal provided quality-soil
as a cheap source of raw material and the in-land canals
functioned as the mode of low-cost and easily accessible
local transport. The hinterland of Kolkata – the districts of
Howrah, Hooghly, North and South 24 Parganas – thus
became suiTable locations for brickfields, as the city grew
in size. In West Bengal, around 3500 brick-manufacturing
units provide employment (officially) to more than 0.7
million people from the rural agricultural sector. Brick
industry creates 50 jobs against an investment of 0.1 million
rupees compared to 7 jobs in other small-scale industries and
2 jobs in large-scale industries. Most of the workers engaged
in brick industry are migrants and they are casually engaged.
The brickfields in Bengal have been set up for nearly two
centuries now. Since the beginning of the colonial period in
Bengal, the structure of Fort Williams, representing the
power and might of the British army and many other
structures of significance were erected from bricks. Brick
production is a seasonal activity. The seasonal migrant
worker living in the brickfields throughout the period of 6 to
8 months of production, returns back to the village after the
production season comes to a close. The brickfields, known
as the it-khola, are open cast and work continues from 6 a.m.
in the morning to 6 p.m. in the evening. The whole process
of brick making is split into a number of tasks performed
sequentially in different locations within the brickfields
spread over 7 to 12 bighas (2.5 to 4 acres) of land. The
workers engaged in brickfields in West Bengal are: Pathera
(those who mould bricks), Matikata labour (the earth
diggers), Taboya (the bearers of mud-filled baskets), Reja
(those who carry bricks to the furnace), Bujhai mistri (the
workers who arrange bricks in a particular fashion in the
furnace), Mati-phulla (the workers who bring prepared soil
to the reja for moulding), Bail hakka (the workers who drive
bullocks round the mills for grinding soil), and Muh-katta
(the workers who collect mixed soil from the open end of
the mill).
Table 1: Labour Categorization In Brick Kilns of Khejuri
Categories of Labourers No. of Labourers
Supervisor/Sardar 31
Thikadar/Contractor 93
Manager/Munsi 69
Mud Cutter 1255
Brick Maker 1265
Fire man 92
Mud & Brick Carrier & Loader 622
Beldar 87
Coalman 48
Rubbish man 46
Trolley man 424
Others 09
Total 4041

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6. Results and Discussion
Socio-Economic Conditions Of Women Workers
Engaged In Some Selected Brick Factories In Khejuri Cd
Blocks:
The study concentrates on the socio-economic conditions of
the women workers engaged in 23 brick kilns situated in
Khejuri CD Blocks of Purba Medinipur in West Bengal.
Total sampled women workers numbering 1241 were
interviewed out of 1484 working women. Side by side 23
brick kiln owners were asked to elicit some information and
views on brick kiln matters and socio-economic conditions
of the workingwomen engaged in those kilns.
The women workers who were interviewed and their
working places are shown below (Table-2):
Table 2: Showing Number of Sampled Brick Kilns, Total Women Workers and Respondents Showing The Number of
Sampled Brick Kilns, Total Women Workers and Respondents
Location Total Brick
Kilns
Total Sampled
Brick Kilns
Total Women
Workers
Responded Women
Workers
Number % Number % Number % Number %
Khejuri-I 07 25.9 05 71.4 387 26.1 272 70.3
Khejuri-II 20 74.1 18 90.0 1097 73.9 969 88.3
TOTAL 27 100.0 23 85.2 1484 100.0 1241 83.6
In order to have an idea about socio-economic conditions of
women workers engaged in brick kilns, some factors like
religion, ethnic composition, marital status, age at marriage
and many other things have been taken into consideration.
These factors are discussed below:
A. Social Conditions of Women Workers
Religions of women workers in the sampled brick kilns are
shown in Table-3.
Table 3: Labour Division Based on Religion in the Brick
Fields
Name of
Religions
No.Of Labourers % of
LabourersMale Female Total
Hindu 2613(93.32%) 1188(95.73%) 3801 94.06
Muslim 187(6.68%) 53(4.27%) 240 5.94
= 2800(100.0%) 1241(100.0%) 4041 100
The analysis of the data obtained from Table-3 reveals that
96% of the sampled women workers belonging to 23 brick
kilns are Hindu and only 4% of the sampled working women
is Muslim.
The ethnic composition of the women workers of selected
brick kilns is shown in Table-4.
Table 4: Labour Divisions Based On Ethnic Composition in The Brick Fields
Sl. No. Name of
Caste
No.of Labourers % of Labourers
Male Female Total
1 General 1288(46.0%) 271(21.8%) 1559(38.6%) 38.58
2 SC 1110(39.6%) 559(45.0%) 1669(41.3%) 41.30
3 OBC-A & B 193(6.9%) 153(12.3%) 346(8.6%) 8.56
4 ST 209(7.5%) 258(20.8%) 467(11.6%) 11.56
TOTAL = 2800(100.0%) 1241(100.0%) 4041(100.0%) 100
From the analysis of the above Table-4, it is clear that a
majority of women workers (45%) belong to Scheduled
Caste category. 21%, 21% and 12% of the sampled women
workers belong to Scheduled Tribe, Upper Hindu caste and
backward classes respectively.
The marital status of the women workers engaged in the
sampled brick kilns is shown in Table-5.
Table 5: Marital Status of the Targeted Women Workers
Female
Workers
Marital Status
UnmarriedMarried
(single)
Widow Divorced
Married
(2 or more
times)
Number 681 156 203 54 147
% 54.8 12.6 16.4 4.4 11.8
Total 1241=100%
It is evident from the above Table-4 that about 12% of the
women workers is unmarried. 55%, 13%, 16% and 4% of
the working women are married(single), widow, divorced
and married(2 or more times) respectively.
Table-6 shows the age at marriage of women workers
engaged in sampled brick kilns in Khejuri CD Blocks of
West Bengal.
Table 6: Age At Marriage of Sampled Women Workers
Female Workers Age at Marriage(Year)
Bellow 16 16-18 19-21 Above 21
Number 423 537 85 49
% 38.7 49.1 7.8 4.5
Total 1094=100%
Out of 1241-sampled women workers, 147 women workers
are unmarried. So the rest i.e. 1094 women workers are
either married or widow or divorced. It can be said that, at
one point of time, 1094 workers were married. Out of 1094
women workers, 39% got married within the age of 16

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years. 49% , 8% and about 5% got married in the age group
of 16-18 years, 18-21 years and above years respectively (as
shown in Table-5).
Table-7 exhibits the number of children of sampled women
workers.
Table 7: Number of Children of Each Woman Worker
amongst the Sample
Female
Workers
Number of Children Unmarried Women
Workers1 2 3 4 & above
Number 170 574 281 69 147
% 15.5 52.5 25.7 6.3 11.8
Total 1094(88.2%)
Grand Total 1241=100%
Table-7 manifests that 53% of the working women have 2
children each. 16%, 26% and 6% of the women labour force
have one, three and four & more children each. Total
number of sampled women workers is 1241. Here 147
women workers have not been taken into consideration, as
they were unmarried.
Table 8: Family Size of the Sampled Women Workers In
the Brick Kilns
Female
Workers
Number of Family Members
1-3 3-5 5-7 7 & above
Number 487 593 144 17
% 39.2 47.8 11.6 1.4
Total 1241=100%
Table-8 shows the family size of the women workers in the
brick kilns of Khejuri CD Blocks. The analysis of the above
Table reveals that 48% of the women workers of the selected
brick kilns have the family size ranging from 3 to 5 each.
39% of the women workers have the family members
ranging from 1 to 3. 144 women workers out of 1241 have
the family size ranging from 5 to 7 members each. There are
only 17 families that have more than 7 members each.
Educational attainment of the women workers is displayed
in Table-8.
Table 9: Educational Attainment Of The Sampled Women
Workers
Female
Workers
Level of Education
Illiterate
Just
Literate
Class I-II Class II-IV
Class-IV
& above
Number 532 478 154 46 31
% 42.9 38.5 12.4 3.7 2.5
Total 1241=100%
The analysis of the above Table-9 manifests that 43% of the
women workers engaged in the brick kilns under study are
illiterate. Only 39% of the women workers are just literate.
12%, 4% and 3% of the working women have studied up to
Class I-II, Class II-IV and Class IV & more respectively.
Table-10 shows the educational attainment of the children of
the women workers in the brick kilns of Khejuri.
Table 10: Educational Attainment of the Children of the
Sampled Women Workers
Female
Workers
Level of Education
No Education Class I-II Class II-IV Class-IV & above
Number 451 363 295 132
% 36.2 29.2 23.8 10.6
Total 1241=100%
The children of 36% women workers do not have any
education at all as displayed in Table 9. The children of
29% women workers have attained formal education (from
Class I to Class II) and only the children of 11% women
workers have been able to get education of Class IV and
more.
B. Economic Condition of Women Workers
Table 11: Migration among the Sampled Women Workers
in the Brick Kilns
Female
Workers
Migrants
LocalSame
District
Other
District
Other
State
Total
Number 211 497 342 1050 191
% 17.0 40.0 27.6 84.6 15.4
Total 1241=100%
Our survey, as depicted in Table-11, indicates that out of
1241 women workers, 1050 women workers come from
same district, other districts of the same State and other
states. 28% of the 80 migrants come from other States like
Bihar, Jharkhand, etc. Only 191 women workers come daily
from the nearby villages to do the work in the brick kilns.
Table-12 records the responses of women workers with
regard to the earning members of their families.
Table 12: Earning Members in the Family of the Women
Workers in Brick Kilns
Female
Workers
Earning Members in the Family of the
Women Workers
1 2 3 4 5 & above
Number 47 276 515 353 50
% 3.8 22.2 41.5 28.5 4.0
Total 1241=100%
A perusal of the above Table-12 indicates that in 43% and
29% families, there are 3 and 4 working members
respectively per family. 22% families of women workers
have 2 working members each. 4% and 4% families have 1
and 6 working members each. These all help the families of
women workers to earn their livelihood. A further analysis
of the above Table-11 shows that there are altogether 1241
working members in women workers’ families who are
engaged in economic activities.
Table-13 shows the monthly income of the women workers
in the brick kilns of Nadia district.

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Table 13: Data On Monthly Income of Brick Field
Labourers:-
Monthly Income
Categories(Rs./)
No. of
Labourers
% of Labourers
Bellow 1500 14 1.13
1500-3000 32 2.58
3000-4500 208 16.76
4500-6000 749 60.35
6000-7500 235 18.94
Above 7500 03 0.24
Total 1241 100.00
From Table-13, it comes to our notice that the monthly
income of 60% of the sampled women workers attached to
the brick kilns under study lie between Rs.4500 and 6000.
Only 19% of the interviewed women workers earn annually
between Rs.6000 and above. Table-13 records the sources
of family income (Other than brick kilns) of the interviewed
women workers in the brick kilns.
Table 14: Sources of Family Income (Other Than Brick Kilns) of the Women Workers
Female Workers Sources of Family Income (other than Brick Kilns)
Agriculture Agriculture Labourer Labour Small Trade or Business Maid Any work No work
Number 214 385 508 21 28 68 17
% 17.2 31.0 40.9 1.7 2.3 5.5 1.4
TOTAL 1241=100%
Our survey, as portrayed in Table-14, reveals that
agriculture and agriculture labour are the major sources of
livelihood of the family members of the women workers in
the brick kilns. They are engaged in those activities to
maintain the one square meal. They are to depend on other
activities, as the brick kilns remain operative for 6 to 7
months in each year. So, all the workers cannot depend
solely on the work of brick kilns round the year. During the
remaining part of the year, they engage themselves either in
agricultural activities or as maid, agricultural labourer etc.
Table-15 records land held by the women workers engaged
in the brick kilns under study.
Table 15: Land Holdings of the Sampled Women Workers
in the Brick Kilns
Female
Workers
Land Holdings of Women Workers (Bigha)
No Land 0-1 1-2 2-3 3 & above
Number 337 478 285 109 32
% 27.1 38.5 23.0 8.8 2.6
TOTAL 1241=100%
A perusal of Table-15 indicates that 27% of the interviewed
women workers have no land at all. 39% women workers
have up to 1 bigha land. 23% of the women workers have 1-
2 bigha lands and only 3% of women workers have 3 and
more lands.
Responses of women workers with regard to indebtedness
among the women workers of the sampled brick kilns are
shown in Table-16.
Table 16: Indebtedness among the Women Workers in the
Brick Kilns
Female
Workers
Indebtedness to
Thikadar
(Contractors)
Brick Kiln
Owners
Kiln
Managers
Relatives
& Friends
No
Indebtedness
Number 491 581 85 49 35
% 39.6 46.8 6.9 3.9 2.8
Total 1241=100%
Looking at the Table-16, it is clear that 47% of the women
workers are indebted to the brick kiln owners. About 40%
are indebted to Thikadar or Mahajan. Only 7% are indebted
toKiln Manager.49 out of 1241 women workers borrowed
money from Relatives and Friends to meet the expenses
connected with marriage, funeral, and other unforeseen
circumstances.
Types of houses the women workers possess are shown in
Table-17.
Table 17: Types of Houses of the Sampled Women Workers
Female Workers Types of Houses
Kantcha Pucca Semi-pucca Total
Number 1033 02 206 1241
% 83.2 0.2 16.6 100
Total 1241=100%
N.B. Kuchha House: House made of mud and Pucca House:
House built by bricks.
As is evident from Table-17, an overwhelmingly majority
of women workers (83%) lives in kuchha houses. Only 16%
of the women workers have semi-pucca houses.
C. Working Conditions Of Women Workers
Table-18 gives us the responses of women workers
regarding the years of engagement of women in brick kilns.
Table 18: Years of Engagement of Women in Brick Kilns
Female
Workers
Years of Engagement
<1 1-3 3-5 5-7 7-9 9-11 11 & above
Number 31 107 263 401 349 71 19
% 2.5 8.6 21.2 32.3 28.1 5.7 1.6
Total 1241=100%
We find in Table-18 that 32% out of 1241 women workers
have been working 5 to 7 years in brick kilns. 28% women
workers are working 7-9 years in the brick kilns. Only 2%
women workers are working in the brick kilns one to five
years.
Reasons for doing brick factory works by the women are
exhibited in Table-19.

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Table 19: Reasons For Doing Brick Factory Works By Women
Female
Workers
REASONS FOR DOING BRICK FACTORY WORKS BY WOMEN
Agriculture work
not available all
time
For more
earning
For no other available
employment
For 6 months
work at a
time
For Poverty
No use by
sitting idle
For Helping
Husband/
Family
Number 58 235 44 83 729 55 37
% 4.7 18.9 3.6 6.7 58.7 4.4 3.0
TOTAL 1241=100%
The analysis of the above Table-19 reveals that 59% of the
sampled women workers work in the brick kilns because of
poverty. 19% of the women workers engaged themselves for
more earning. Meager percentage of working women choose
to do the brick kiln work because of non-availability of
agricultural work, opportunity of doing the work for 6/7
months in a year etc.
Table 20 shows the types of occupation of women before
joining brick kiln works.
Table 20: Types of Occupation of Women Before Joining Brick Kiln Works
Female
Workers
Types of Occupation
Transport
Labour
Agricultural
Labour
Cultivator
in own land
Maid Labour in Hotel/Restaurant/
Shops/so on
Labour as in
accessibility at own area
Any other
work
No work
earlier
Number 203 445 124 41 33 209 109 77
% 16.4 35.9 10.0 3.3 2.7 16.8 8.8 6.2
TOTAL 1241=100%
The scan of the above Table-20 shows that 36% of the
women workers was engaged in agriculture as agriculture
labourer and 33% of women workers was engaged simply as
labourer. Only 10% sampled women workers get themselves
engaged in cultivating their own land. Others were involved
either in any other activities or in factory work from the
start. 6% women workers did not do any work before joining
brick kiln.
Types of brick kiln works for women are shown in Table-
21.
Table 21: Types of Brick Kiln Works Done By Women
Workers
Types of Works Total
Number
of
Female
Workers
Mud
Cutting,
Moulding
& Carrying
Brick
Making
Brick
Drying &
Arranging
Brick
Carrying
Others
166
(13.38%)
51
(4.11%)
198
(15.95)
731
(58.90%)
95
(7.66)
1241
(100.00)
From the above Table-21, it appears that 59% of the
sampled women workers were engaged in brick carrying
activities followed by brick drying (16%), mud processing
(13%) and other activities (16%).
Table 22 records the responses of the respondents about the
types of demand of women workers to brick kiln owners.
Table 22: Types of demand of women workers to brick kiln
owner
Female
Workers
Types of Demands
Wage
Increasing
Bonus
&
Advance
Job
Security
Foods,
Shelter &
Clothes
Education
& Health
No
Demand
Number 979 123 102 23 14 0
% 78.9 9.9 8.2 1.9 1.1 0
TOTAL 1241=100%
Table-22 clearly indicates that 79% of the total sampled
women workers clamored for increase in wages as the hike
in wages may help them maintain their families. Only 10%
of 1241 women workers demanded for bonus and advance
that would meet the festival expenses. 8% out of sampled
women workers opined with regard to job security. 2% of
the working women demanded for clothing, shelter and
foods.
7. Findings and Concluding Observations
• Most of the women workers come from Hindu family and
a few from Muslim families to do in the brick kilns.
• Most of the women workers belong to scheduled caste and
tribe community.
• A large amount of married women are engaged in brick
kiln activities.
• The women workers engaged in the brick fields got
married at the age of 16 years.
• An overwhelming majority of the women workers and
their children are illiterate.
• Migrant workers are large in number. Family sizes of
them are large.
• Annual and monthly family incomes of the working
women are not adequate to maintain for their livelihood.
• When the brick kiln works are not available, they engage
themselves in other activities like agriculture and other
works.
• Land holdings of them are very much minimal.
• Most of the workers live in kachha houses.
• Women workers work in the kilns due to severe poverty.
• Most of the workers are involved in brick carrying and
brick making activities.
• Majority of the women workers clamor for wage hike as
the wage they earn is not sufficient to feed the members of
their families.
• Working women generally take advance from brick kiln
owners.

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8. Recommendations / Suggestions
Nation develops if the women are developed. So it is the
first and foremost duty of our Government to pay attention
for the well-being of the women community. A number of
measures have been adopted by the Government for their
welfare. But in some cases, women’s interest is not
protected. In case of brick industry, they live in the thatched
huts close to kiln, which generally do not have electricity.
The electricity should be provided in those huts by the
owners of the brick kilns. Separate rest room should be
arranged for the women workers engaged in the brick kilns.
There should have a separate neat and clean toilet for the
women workers. The eligible women workers should be
given maternity benefit. Very often, some of the brick kiln
owners do the little care for the same. In order to provide the
maternity benefits to the women workers of the brick kilns,
necessary amendments are required in the Maternity Benefit
Act. Adult education programme for the women workers of
the brick kilns should be implemented for making them
literate. Exhaustive and comprehensive legislation is
urgently needed for regulating working conditions, wage
structure, welfare measures of the women workers in the
brick kilns. The Labour Department should come forward to
prevent physical-mental torture, sexual harassment and
molestation of the workingwomen engaged in the brick kiln
factories. For this, the Department should introduce special
wing that can supervise the matter and take necessary action
against the wrongdoers. Voluntary organizations of eminent
personalities of the region (where brick kilns are situated)
should be involved to see whether the different provisions
and welfare measures are being strictly implemented. It is
necessary to enforce the “Inter-State Migrant Workmen Act”
and “Contact Labour Act” to check the bungling in the
recruitment procedure and working condition. The parents of
the women workers married at early stage should be aware
of the fact that early marriage invites a lot of problems. Such
workers are affected mentally and physically. So
Government as well as NGO should make an awareness
programme that will discuss about the ill effects of early
marriage. The co-operation of brick kiln owners is urgently
needed in this regard. Workers live in poverty. In order to
alleviate poverty, they should be informed about different
poverty alleviation programmes adopted by the Government
from time to time. Due to lack of information and ignorance,
they suffer from poverty.
9. Scope for Further Research
There are some specific limitations, which should be
addressed as a means of improvement for further study. This
study has equipped based on intensive literary survey and
field ground truth information used for socio-economic data.
Planning is never whole without local people’s opinions
incorporated. The study can be considered as the guideline
or instruction for socio-economic planning. Yet, this
research will expose opportunities for further research and
investigation, and help decision makers to review what
options exist for improving and humanizing the female
worker’s conditions in the brick kilns of not only my study
area, but also of West Bengal as well as India.
There are many scopes for further research work on “Brick
Industry”. The researchers may do the research work on:
1) “Socio-economic conditions of women workers in Brick
Kilns in Purba Medinipur, West Bengal, Bangladesh
and India”: A Comparative Study
2) Working Conditions of Brick Kilns in India: A Case
Study of West Bengal
3) Labour Welfare in Brick Kiln Fields in India: A Study
4) Brick Industry and Environment Pollution: A Study
5) Problems and Prospects of Real Estate Sector in India:
A Study in the light of Brick Industry.
6) Effectiveness of Labour Laws in Brick Kiln Industry: A
Study
7) Qualitative Study On Clinico-Social Problems of Brick-
Kiln Workers: A Study
8) Sociological Study of Brick kiln Workers: A Study
9) Morbidity profile of Brick Kiln women workers: A
Study
10) Occupational & ergonomic health analyses of female
construction Workers of West Bengal: a study, etc.
References
[1] Census of India, 2001.
[2] Garg, Ajay (1994), Labour Laws, Nabhi Publications,
New Delhi.
[3] Ghosal, Pallab Kanti (2008), Prospects and Problems
of Brick Industry, Mittal Publications, New Delhi.
[4] Government of India, Ministry of Labour, Labour
Bureau, Chandigarh, Brick Kiln Industry in Haryana,
1984.
[5] Government of India, Ministry of Labour, Labour
Bureau, Chandigarh, Brick Kiln Industry in West
Bengal, 1984
[6] Hamid, A., Rahat, K., Saleem, M.,(2008), Socio-
Economic Conditions of People Working in Brick
Kilns. MA Thesis. Peshawar: Institute of Archaeology
and Anthropology, University of Peshawar.
[7] Malik, P. L. (1986), Labour and Industrial Law,
Eastern Book Co., Lucknow.
[8] Mandal, Amal (2005), Women Workers in Brick
Factory, Northern Book Centre, New Delhi.
[9] Manohar, K. M. (1983), Socio-Economic Status of
Indian Women, Seema Publication, New Delhi.
[10] Nath, Vishwa (1992), Workers’ Participation in
Management, Mittal Publications, New Delhi.
[11] Ramanamma, A. and Bambawale, U. (1987), Women
in Indian Industry, Mittal Publications, New Delhi.
[12] Roy, S. K.(2012), Socio-economic Conditions of
Women Workers in Some Selected Brick Kilns in
West Bengal: An Empirical Study with special
reference to Nadia District.
[13] Sett M and Sahu S.,(2014), Effects of occupational
heat exposure on female brick workers in West Bengal,
India,Glob Health Action.
[14] Saran, A. B., and Sandhwar, A. N. (1990), Problems of
Women Workers in Unorganized Sectors, Northern
Book Centre, New Delhi.
[15] Yojana (Bengali), November, 2009.
[16] www.brickindia.com
[17] www.labourbureau.nic.in

www.ijsr.net
Author Profile
Rabin Das received his B. Sc. Hons. Degree on
Geography in 2006 from Khejuri College(Khejuri,
Purba Medinipur, West Bengal) under Vidyasagar
University and completed M. Sc. on Geography and
Environment Management in 2008 from Vidyasagar
University (Midnapore, Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal) with the
award as Gold Medalist and special endowment for first class first
position. He commenced his professional carrier in 2008, as an
Assistant Teacher of Geography in Panskura Bradley Birt High
School (Panskura, Purba Medinipur, West Bengal) and in 2010 he
has appointed as an Assistant Professor of Geography at Bajkul
Milani Mahavidyalaya, (P.O.-Kismat Bajkul, Dist.-Purba
Medinipur), West Bengal in India. He is now actively engaged in
his research work as a research scholar under Vidyasagar
University and in a project work as a principal investigator under
UGC (Eastern Region-Kolkata, West Bengal).

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