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The Print
4 days ago
- General
- The Print
Too young to work, too poor to stop: Children of brick kiln migrants struggle for basic rights
When asked how it tastes, Rajni responds in a defensive tone: 'This is not bad… It's better than no food.' Fruits, she adds, are a rare treat — usually available only when a local farmer tosses away overripe leftovers. Just as the thin lentils begin to look ready, she pours more water into the pot in a bid to stretch the modest meal, which otherwise wouldn't be enough to feed her family of eight. Bulandshahr/Aligarh, Jul 20 (PTI) In the scorching May heat, 12-year-old Rajni cradles her infant sister while stirring watery dal simmering in a soot-blackened aluminium pot outside her hut in Uttar Pradesh's Aligarh district. 'This year, I ate a lot of mangoes,' she said with a grin, referring to tapkas, the ripe mangoes that fall from trees that she and her friends were allowed to collect. Rajni's family is one among thousands of seasonal migrants who travel each year to work in the sprawling brick kilns of western Uttar Pradesh. But while the kilns promise income, the real cost is borne by children like Rajni, who grow up without education, adequate food, or healthcare and are caught in a cycle of generational poverty and invisible labour. In 2021, data submitted by the government to Parliament suggested that there are 1.74 crore workers in registered brick kilns, while independent research has shown that 20 per cent of this workforce consists of child labourers. 'Therefore, it can be reasonably presumed that approximately 35 lakh children are working in brick kilns, with the number likely higher in illegal kilns,' said Bhuwan Ribhu, a child rights activist who founded Just Rights for Children. Most of the families' movement, dictated by the kiln season, spans eight to nine months a year. With no permanent address and no local documentation, the children are often excluded from even the most basic rights,'. Ten-year-old Neeraj, for instance, spends his days hauling lumps of dried mud in a wooden pan. 'I can't go to school because my father says we have come here as one unit and all need to work. If I get a chance to go to school, I would study hard and become an officer,' he said. His mother adds, 'Each one of us, including the children, has a role in this industry.' Children are typically assigned so-called 'lighter tasks,' such as fetching water, helping to mould bricks, or carrying half-baked clay, but the physical toll is visible in their frail, malnourished bodies. 'For every rupee a worker earns, nearly 25 paise goes to the agent and brick kiln owners are in direct touch with the agents, so we get just 75 per cent of the earnings, which comes to around Rs 400 per day for a family,' explained Suresh, a brick kiln worker. Elaborating further, Ramesh Shrivastav, general secretary of the Mazdoor Adhikar Manch, said the system is designed to exploit the vulnerability of the migrant workers and their children and keep them indebted. 'For kiln owners, local labourers are a risk because they can protest against exploitation as they have their community here. This, however, is not the case with migrant workers, so kiln owners only hire them as they are vulnerable and less likely to resist exploitation. Moreover, as migrant workers' children don't attend school like the locals, the kiln owners get extra hands,' he said. Among the 20-odd children PTI spoke to across kiln sites in Aligarh and Bulandshahr, none were currently enrolled in school. Only two had ever attended school, and that too briefly, as their parents began migrating seasonally. 'My sister and I studied till class 5 when our parents used to find work in our village. That was back in 2018,' said Naresh, a 14-year-old boy. Despite the Right to Education Act mandating free and compulsory education for all children aged 6 to 14, migrant children remain excluded. The government has tried to bridge this gap through the Poshan Tracker, linking anganwadis to migrant families, but the implementation is patchy. While most parents were unaware of the scheme, the prospect of sending their children away from the worksite was a deal-breaker. 'Who will fetch water or help us mould bricks if they go to school? We came here to earn, not to study. That will come later, maybe for their children,' said Munni Devi, a mother of five. Meanwhile, local anganwadi workers say they often hesitate to enrol children without documents like Aadhar. 'While Aadhaar now allows for easier enrolment, many children still don't come because of the distance. Most anganwadis are located within villages, while many families live on the outskirts. There's also fear that showing up at an anganwadi might draw attention to the fact that the children aren't attending school,' said an anganwadi worker in Bulandshahr, speaking on condition of anonymity. When PTI reached out to the brick kiln owners, they denied employing children, saying the kids only 'accompany' their families. 'It is up to the parents to decide whether they want to send their children to school or keep them here… how can we interfere?' a kiln owner said. Rights activists, however, termed it as an excuse for systemic exploitation. 'Children working alongside parents is normalised, but this is not helpful; it's hidden labour, and it violates their rights,' said Nirmal Gorana, convenor of the National Campaign Committee for the Eradication of Bonded Labour. According to a local official, the seasonal nature of the work also makes oversight difficult, as the workers come in October and leave by June before the monsoon. 'So, keeping track of their movement and exploitation becomes tough,' the district official told PTI. PTI UZM RHL This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Mint
7 days ago
- Health
- Mint
Weight-loss surgery gone wrong? 55-year-old Meerut woman dies, kin allege doctors' negligence
In a sad incident, a 55-year-old woman died after undergoing bariatric surgery at a private hospital in Uttar Pradesh's Meerut which sparked outrage among her family members, reported PTI. The family member alleged gross negligence by the attending doctor, said officials on Wednesday. This escalated the situation at the hospital premises, prompting the arrival of police and health department officials. The victim has been identified as Rajni Gupta, wife of businessman Brajmohan Gupta and a resident of Sadar Bazar. She was admitted to the Nutima Hospital on Garh Road on 11 July for the weight-loss surgery. At the time of her surgery, she weighed 123 kg and had opted for the procedure performed by bariatric surgeon Dr Rishi Singhal, the family said. Her son, Shubham Gupta, stated that his sister, Shivani, who also weighed around 120 kg, had been admitted to the hospital for surgery along with their mother. The kin alleged that the doctor promised a loss of 30 kg within 24 hours. While Shivani's operation was successful, Rajni passed away following her surgery. A day after the surgery, Rajni experienced severe abdominal pain, which the doctors allegedly dismissed. But on 13 July, an X-ray revealed a leak in the abdomen, allegedly caused during surgery, leading to infection, the family claimed, further alleging that she died on Tuesday as she did not receive proper treatment. The victim's husband has filed a complaint at the Medical Police Station, accusing the doctor and the hospital staff of negligence. However, no FIR has been registered yet. "The complaint has been forwarded to the Chief Medical Officer , and further action will depend on the investigation report," SHO Shilesh Kumar told PTI. However, CMO Dr Ashok Kumar Kataria said he has not yet received the complaint and will act accordingly once it arrives. Dr Rishi Singhal denied any negligence and said Rajni and her daughter attended an event on December 15, 2024, featuring over 150 of his treated patients. He added that they approached him on July 8, requesting surgeries while their family business was on hold due to the Kanwar Yatra. The doctor mentioned, "Rajni had multiple pre-existing conditions - diabetes, high blood pressure, thyroid issues, fatty liver, sleep apnea, high cholesterol, and cardiac concerns." He even stated both mother and daughter were informed that the procedure would be critical. On 11 July, Rajni underwent a successful surgery and on 12 July, Shivani requested her surgery be advanced. Till 13 July, both were stable until the morning, but Rajni experienced uneasiness that evening and was "immediately shifted" to the ICU, the doctor said. He further claimed that a team of doctors, including Vishwajeet Bembi, Vishal Saxena, Avneet Rana, Mitul Jain, Hariraj Tomar, and Sandeep Garg, attempted treatment, but she died of a heart attack despite their efforts.
News18
7 days ago
- Health
- News18
Meerut Woman Dies After Weight-Loss Surgery, Family Alleges Negligence, Doctor Denies Charge
Last Updated: A woman died after undergoing bariatric surgery in Meerut, prompting her family to allege medical negligence. The doctor denied the claims, citing her pre-existing conditions. A 55-year-old woman died at a hospital in Meerut after she underwent a bariatric surgery for weight loss. Her family members expressed outrage over the incident and approached the higher authorities at the hospital with a complaint against the doctor who performed the surgery. The woman was identified as Rajni Gupta and was operated for weight loss on July 11. She passed away on July 13. The incident was reported after the situation at the hospital escalated following an outrage among the patient's family members and the police were called. Officials from the health department also arrived at the scene. According to the details, Rajni Gupta, wife of businessman Brajmohan Gupta and a resident of Sadar Bazar, was admitted to the Nutima Hospital on Garh Road on July 11 for the weight-loss surgery. Her family claims she was influenced by a social media advertisement promoting bariatric surgery. At the time of her surgery, she weighed 123 kg and had opted for the procedure performed by bariatric surgeon Dr Rishi Singhal, the family said. The family alleged that the doctor promised a loss of 30 kg within 24 hours. While Shivani's operation was successful, Rajni passed away following her surgery. It was known that Rajni experienced severe abdominal pain the day after surgery, which the doctors allegedly dismissed. On July 13, an X-ray revealed a leak in the abdomen, allegedly caused during surgery, leading to infection, the family claimed, further alleging that she died as she did not receive proper treatment. A complaint with the Medical Police Station was filed by Rajni's husband, who accused the doctor and the hospital staff of negligence. In response to the allegations, Dr Rishi Singhal said Rajni and her daughter attended an event on December 15, 2024, featuring over 150 of his treated patients. Impressed by the results, they approached him on July 8, requesting surgeries while their family business was on hold due to the Kanwar Yatra, the doctor said. He further noted that he informed them that the surgery could not be done immediately without tests and proper preparation. Shivani returned the next day with reports, and Rajni's surgery was scheduled for July 11, while Shivani's was booked for July 14. 'Rajni had multiple pre-existing conditions – diabetes, high blood pressure, thyroid issues, fatty liver, sleep apnea, high cholesterol, and cardiac concerns," he said, adding that both mother and daughter were informed that the procedure would be critical. Rajni underwent a successful surgery on July 11, after which Shivani requested her surgery be advanced to July 12. Both were stable until the morning of July 13. However, Rajni experienced uneasiness that evening and was 'immediately shifted" to the ICU, the doctor said. He further claimed that a team of doctors, including Vishwajeet Bembi, Vishal Saxena, Avneet Rana, Mitul Jain, Hariraj Tomar, and Sandeep Garg, attempted treatment, but she died of a heart attack despite their efforts. view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 17, 2025, 12:20 IST News india Meerut Woman Dies After Weight-Loss Surgery, Family Alleges Negligence, Doctor Denies Charge Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
India Today
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Sanjay Dutt on Leo: Loved working with Thalapathy Vijay but Lokesh wasted me
Veteran actor Sanjay Dutt, who continues to make his mark in pan-India projects, recently expressed disappointment over his role in Lokesh Kanagaraj's 'Leo'. The actor candidly spoke about feeling underused by the director in the Thalapathy the press meet for his upcoming Kannada film 'KD – The Devil' in Chennai, Sanjay Dutt spoke about his experience working on 'Leo'. "I worked with Thalapathy Vijay and I loved it. But I'm angry with Lokesh Kanagaraj because he didn't give me a big role in 'Leo'. He wasted me," the actor said with a smile, subtly conveying his warmly about his admiration for Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, the actor said, 'Rajni sir and Kamal sir, I respect them a lot. They are my seniors, and I look up to them. I've worked with Rajni sir in multiple films and he's one of the most humble people I've ever met. I also love Ajith sir. We're close friends. I've watched a lot of Rajni sir's films, and I'm looking forward to 'Coolie'.' At another promotional event, when asked about the box office clash between his upcoming films 'The Raja Saab' and 'Dhurandhar', both scheduled to release on December 5, 2025, the actor responded, 'I don't want the films to clash and I hope they don't.'Here's the teaser: Meanwhile, 'KD – The Devil', directed by Prem of 'Jogi' fame, has been creating buzz ever since the teaser was released. The film stars Dhruva Sarja in the lead, along with Sanjay Dutt, Shilpa Shetty, Reeshma Nanaiah, Ramesh Aravind, and Ravichandran in key roles.- EndsMust Watch
Time of India
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Asha Parekh once opened up about never getting married or having children: She believed that it wasn't meant to be; said 'I have absolutely no regrets'
Asha Parekh, the iconic actress of Hindi cinema's golden era, once shared her reflections on remaining single and embracing solitude. Despite experiencing heartbreak and opportunities for marriage, she believes it wasn't her destiny. Parekh emphasizes that true beauty radiates from inner happiness and values the guidance of close friends like Waheeda Rehman. She ruled the silver screen through the golden era of Hindi cinema, and off-screen, lived life on her own terms. The legendary actress Asha Parekh once opened up about never marrying, choosing solitude, and finding happiness within. In a recent conversation with Harper's Bazaar India, where she appeared on the cover, Parekh opened up about her decision to remain single and whether she harbours any regrets. She reflected on this chapter, saying that while she would have loved to get married and have children, it simply wasn't in her destiny. Still, she emphasized that she holds no regrets about the path she chose. Reflecting on the connection between inner joy and outer beauty, she shared that she firmly believes true beauty comes from within. According to her, happiness naturally radiates through a person's appearance, while unhappiness inevitably shows on one's face. The veteran star also spoke about the people she relies on for guidance. She mentioned that she often turns to close friend and holds veteran actress Waheeda Rehman in high regard. Parekh added that while she values Waheeda ji's opinion deeply, she's open to good advice from anyone, regardless of the source. Asha Parekh has enjoyed a remarkable career in Hindi cinema, with classics like Sajan, Rajni, Kati Patang, and others still cherished by audiences today. Her enduring legacy continues to inspire generations of film lovers.
