Busy season begins for brick kiln workers (photos)

KATHMANDU: As winter sets in, brick kiln workers are once again immersed in their daily grind of making bricks.

Workers from various parts of the country are entering the Kathmandu Valley to engage in brick production.

Among them is Jit Bahadur Moktan from Simara, Bara, who has been working in the brick kilns of Bhaktapur for the past 13 years.

Moktan, who supports a family of six, shares the hardships his family faces due to financial constraints. His son, who was studying in class 7, had to drop out of school due to the family’s economic situation.

Moktan, who has been living in Duwakot, Bhaktapur for many years, explained that during the brick-making season, he focuses on producing bricks, and in off-season, he works as a day laborer.

His family has already started making bricks, and Moktan expects them to construct a temporary shelter made from raw bricks (Jhyauli) in the coming days. For now, they are sheltering under zinc sheets.

Despite the tough circumstances, Moktan remains more concerned about the potential lack of work than anything else. He lamented, “This season, I will only get work for two months, just enough to pay off debts. There’s no profit.”

Like many others, Moktan and his fellow workers rely on advances from the kiln owner during the off-season. However, this year, uncertainty looms as they worry whether they will receive their advance payments.

Photos:

-Tenzing Dolma Tamang