OHRC seeks inquiry into violation of rights of brick kiln

OHRC today asked the secretary to the Labour and ESI department, the labour commissioner and the district collectors to inquire into the violation of human rights of brick kiln labourers in the state and submit the action taken report within six weeks, official sources said.

The direction was issued by OHRC acting chairperson Justice B K Mishra while disposing a petition on the matter.

The rights panel also sought report from the authorities on the number of brick kiln workers and their family members rescued and rehabilitated, the sources said.

The commission wanted a report on the prosecution of persons like brick kiln owners, labour contractors and their conduits and action taken against them. The authorities are told to submit their reports with the OHRC on or before May 14, 2018, they said.

The commission issued the direction to the state government authorities while acting on the a petition filed by Justice K P Mohapatra.

The petition quoted a news paper article which said that brick kiln workers and their family members, including minor children in Kendrapara and other districts of the state are leading miserable lives without proper food, dress, medicine and education to the minor children.

The article said that agents engaged by brick mafias illegally hired brick kiln workers from tribal districts like Nabarangpur , Kalahandi, Balangir, Boudh, Nuapada , Bargarh, Mayurbhanj taking advantage of their acute poverty.