90 people free from abusive brick kiln in South Asia
Summary:
IJM’s new partner Divya Disha recently supported its first large-scale operation — bringing 90 people, including 27 children, to safety from an exploitative brick kiln.
These families had been forced to work at the kiln for seven months. A middleman had enticed them with generous advance payments—but the kiln owner used these advances as ever-growing debts the labourers could never repay.
He forced the families to work up to 20 hours a day, seven days a week without adequate rest, shelter, basic sanitation, or medical care (despite several cases of typhoid). Labourers who tried to leave due to illness were threatened by the owner’s henchmen and forced back to work.
Verbal and physical abuse were routine, and workers were beaten for slowing down or taking longer breaks. Children as young as eight years old were also made to work long hours in these harsh conditions, and everyone was monitored constantly by CCTV cameras.
One teenage boy at the kiln suffered a broken hand while protecting a relative from the owner’s assaults. He managed to escape and reported the situation to local authorities. They contacted IJM’s team, who passed the case to our new partner Divya Disha, who had recently been trained to respond to trafficking.
Divya Disha staff accompanied police and government officials to investigate abuse at the kiln, confirm the victims’ testimonies, and bring the families to safety.
IJM’s state programme director shares, “This intervention stands as the first major operation successfully executed by Divya Disha on their own, with strategic guidance from IJM, and indicates the growing leadership of partners in tackling trafficking in this state.”
Once they were safe, the survivors received comprehensive care from the government — including temporary housing, food, medical care, travel funds, and assistance returning to their hometowns safely.
Authorities have filed a First Information Report (FIR) detailing the alleged abuses and listing potential charges. The local Child Welfare Committee also met with many of the 27 children for ongoing counselling, care, and documentation.
Divya Disha staff are continuing to advocate with local authorities for Release Certificates for the survivors, which will cancel their false debts and help them access long-term government benefits.