Nepal

Working in Brick Kilns

Since 2012 Animal Health Training and Consultancy Service (AHTCS) has worked in the brick kilns of the Kathmandu Valley, Dang, Banke and Bardiya to create lasting change for the horses, donkeys and mules who suffer terribly in servicing this harsh industry. The majority of equines, which are required to carry large loads of bricks, are specifically brought to the brick kilns from India and are often not fit for such arduous work. Many will die on the journey or shortly after arrival. They are then subject to poor conditions, labouring day-in-and-day-out, breathing brick dust, and overloaded for long hours without proper rest, feed or access to water. They are also faced with the same issues we see in other communities: a lack of compassion and awareness resulting in poor stabling, poor handling, beatings, overworking, poor nutrition and a lack of available health care services.

How we are helping

AHTCS improves the working conditions and animal welfare facilities in the kilns through working with several different groups:

• Brick kiln associations
  Individual brick kilns within each province of Nepal can join a brick kiln association, benefitting from economies of scale and a strengthened position. In turn, they must abide by the rules of the association. SEWP staff work with these association members and presidents to understand and apply the Animal Welfare Law 2016 by developing practical regulations for all members. By embracing these, we are supporting brick kiln associations to build a more animal-friendly environment within brick kilns.
• Brick kiln owners
  The team encourage the owners (who are actually often contractors who hire a kiln for a season, and hence feel the pressure for it to be financially productive) to introduce regulations that govern the treatment of animals e.g. maximum working hours; maximum loads. They advise on the creation of appropriate stabling and environmental improvements to the site, such as providing drinking water points and levelling dangerous uneven terrain.
• Equine fairs
  The team advises Animal Contractors, who are hired by Brick kiln owners to acquire the animals for the season, on selecting appropriate fit and healthy animals, thus reducing the level of mortality in brick kilns. The team directly attends the annual Dewa Equine Fair in India to offer practical help and advice.
• Workers
  The teams engage with the men working in brick kilns, often separated from their families for six months at a time, to introduce equine welfare concepts and offer them practical training on handling and husbandry topics.
• Animal Health Practitioners and Government Veterinary Field Units
  Often, professional treatment for injury and illness, such as colic, tetanus etc. simply isn’t available to the men working in brick kilns, or is unaffordable. The team mentor and support both local private and government vets to improve their practical skills in treating equine cases and to extend their reach to be able to offer their services to brick kilns.
• Consortia
  The team collaborate with other animal, environmental and humanitarian groups and organisations who have a stake in improving conditions in brick kilns, to have a stronger voice in our dialogues with high-level policy-makers both in Nepal and the wider region.

Working With Owner Groups

AHTCS is working in 17 districts across Nepal, supporting the formation of equine owner groups. Some of these groups are mixed, but often they are either men’s or women’s groups, reflecting the specific roles traditionally played in terms of the use and care of working animals. We introduce welfare concepts and offer practical training on basic first aid, equine handling and equine care.

Advocacy work

AHTCS has celebrated a number of successes as a result of their advocacy work over the last few years.

As a result of their lobbying alongside several other agencies and organisations, in 2016 a national Animal Welfare Law and associated directives were passed in Nepal.

After further lobbying, in 2018, the Supreme Court of Nepal issued an interim order to adopt safe and humane transportation of farm animals for commercial purpose as provisioned in the Animal Transportation Standard. They also issued a revision to the Nation General Code that aims to prevent inhumane behaviour and punish captivity and cruelty towards animals.

To ensure laws are converted into practical action, the team continue to work directly with district and local level government officials to sensitize them to the law, its requirements and advice on practical steps to implement it.

More recently the team have worked to successfully encourage the government to include equids within a national Livestock Insurance Scheme, which offers financial protection and security for owners, whilst encouraging them to seek the correct veterinary services and medicines for sick or injured working equids.

Brooke Ambassador Richard Waygood meets horse owners in Nepal.