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Research Paper | Public Policy | India | Volume 13 Issue 1, January 2024

India's Brick Kiln Industry: Broadening the Wall of Caste and Gender Difference

Mahima Mishra

Abstract: According to the 2011 census, about 85 percent of India's working population works in the unorganised sector. The vast bulk of the entire workforce is employed in the unorganised sector, where they face challenges such as poor working conditions, rigid scheduling, salary disparities, an unprotected workplace, and so on. The brick industry, known as the Brick Kilns industry, is a sector that is primarily limited to semi-urban and rural regions. Brick kilns in India are one of the world's largest industries. This industry employs over 100,000 people (Kumari, 2021). The bulk of brick kiln workers are from dismissed castes and lack equal social position, education, and security. Women experience prejudice and subjugation due to their gender and convergent identities, which include being stigmatised, economically challenged, and educationally deprived. The condition of the brick kiln workforce is also linked to other variables such as labour proletarianization (Kumari, 2021). In light of the present dynamic in brick kilns, this paper will analyse the gender and caste disparity that exists in brick industries, citing various examples from case studies across the country. It will also highlight the practice of child labour in the industry and how despite pre-existing labour laws, the living standard of the workforce does not seem to improve rather it degrades with time.

Keywords: unorganised sector, Brick Kilns industry, caste disparity, gender discrimination, child labour

Edition: Volume 13 Issue 1, January 2024,

Pages: 956 - 959