Work, Climate and Donkeys

For donkeys as well as people, the brick kilns in India are dangerous and unhealthy places to work – but unemployment is worse.

At the RAJ kiln near Agra, accommodation for donkeys and their owners lies empty. Unseasonal rains have waterlogged the brick kilns and there’s no work for them here.

The RAJ brick kiln in Rajakhera near Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. Donkey owners houses at the RAJ kiln. They have left while the kiln dries out. The RAJ kiln is still firing its last load of bricks but will then shut until the area dries out.

Flooded brick kilns in Rajakhera near Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Back in the home village of Madhupur, 16-year old Archang wakes early to begin looking after the unemployed men of her family.

Agra, Archang, Brick kiln, Chotu, Donkey, Donkey Sanctuary, India, Madhupur village, Uttar Pradesh, animals, community, cooking, family, fire, food, stove

Madhupur Village near Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India.

The family have to feed themselves and their donkeys, whether or not they’re earning.

With no income coming in the family have to feed themselves and their six donkeys.

Families who also own a cart can occasionally earn some money hauling a load.

Madhupur Village near Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. Harish gives village children a ride on his brother’s mule cart.

But most of the men and their animals will be out of work until the kilns dry out again.

Madhupur Village near Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. Harish’s donkeys groom each other.  Harish’s family. Harish (19) owns five donkeys and works at the VIP brick kiln about ten kilometres from Madhupur village. During the brick-making season from Nov to June he lives at the kiln with the donkeys. He is home at the moment because the rain has stopped production.

Posted

August 14, 2015

Air quality, Animals, Climate Change, Construction, Cooking, Development, Donkeys, India, Industry, Pollution, Poverty, Unemployment, Urbanisation, Water, Weather, Women, Work

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