Agitation & Movement Activities

1997 – 2004

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On 23 March 1997, a dharna was held at Hope Circus against child labour, under the leadership of Morcha National Treasurer Shri Jagvir Singh.

The protesters included 50 child labourers and an equal number of Morcha workers.

The Morcha demanded that, in light of the Supreme Court’s decision of 10 December 1996, a comprehensive survey of child labourers in the district should be conducted and appropriate steps should be taken for their liberation and rehabilitation.

The district administration responded positively and held discussions with the protesters for two hours, during which the framework for the survey of child labourers was determined.

As a result, the survey of child labourers was conducted in May–June 1997.

Because of the active participation of the Morcha in the survey, the highest number of child labourers in Alwar were identified.

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For two and a half years after the 1997 survey, the Labour Department did not take any action in the interests of child labourers throughout the state.

Even after numerous memoranda and warnings, when no action was taken, on 1 March 2000, Morcha workers gathered at Hope Circus along with hundreds of child labourers and proceeded to demonstrate at the Labour Department at Tilak Market.

The Joint Labour Commissioner and Labour Welfare Officer were surrounded.

The demonstration was led by Shri Rajesh Yajnik and Advocate Renu Gupta.

Under pressure from the protesters, the Joint Labour Commissioner had to come to the gathering himself and announce that concrete action would be taken as soon as possible.

Later, from 2001, the National Child Labour Project was implemented in the district and special schools for child labourers were opened.

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Even after half a century of independence, the ideals and values for which the freedom fighters fought had not been achieved.

The struggle to transform incomplete freedom into complete freedom can and should be fought by the country’s youth.

Organising young people against the country’s burning problems of poverty, unemployment, child labour, bonded labour, corruption and illiteracy is the greatest service to the nation.

Inspired by this idea, efforts had been made to unite young people under “Yuva Seva Sanstha” until 1990, under “Yuva Bharat” in 1991, and under the banner of Bandhua Mukti Morcha in 1994.

A Sankalp Yatra of such youth was taken out on 14 August 1997, on the eve of Independence Day, from Swami Vivekananda Chowk.

Led by Swami Agnivesh, approximately 1,000 young people carrying torches, along with an equal number of other supporting citizens, passed through the main markets and reached Bhagat Singh Chowk.

There, Swami Ji administered a pledge to hundreds of young people to remain active throughout their lives for economic and social justice.

Swami Agnivesh explained to the youth the method of social work and described it as a matter of shame for those in power that poor people were deprived even of basic facilities.

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From the beginning of 1998, the Morcha undertook the task of organising nomadic communities.

Initially, the actual situation of Banjara, Nat, Sansi, Sapera, Bhil, Kalbelia, Jogi, Gadia Lohar, etc., scattered throughout the district, was studied closely.

It was found that most of them had no adequate arrangements for food, clothing, housing, education and healthcare.

Not only this, they also lacked drinking water, ration cards and voting rights.

In other words, they were not even counted as citizens of India.

After organising them for several months to resolve these problems, a “Nomadic People’s Rights Panchayat” was organised at Dussehra Maidan at the Alwar district headquarters on 14 August 1998.

People came to the Panchayat site from small settlements, hamlets and forests across the district in buses, tractors, camel carts, bullock carts, on foot, etc.

The chief guests at the Panchayat were senior Arya Samaj leader Shri Satyavrat Samvedi and Gandhian youth leader Shri Sawai Singh.

The Panchayat proceeded along the lines of a public hearing.

People from different settlements and camps presented their backgrounds and problems.

During this process, one leader was democratically elected from every dhani and camp.

The Panchayat continued until 4 p.m.

A collective written demand letter was prepared.

At 5 p.m., the entire Panchayat departed in the form of a procession.

Everyone marched with clenched fists and slogans, hoping that they would return only after receiving concrete justice.

The size of the procession can be understood from the fact that when its front reached the gates of the Collectorate, its rear end had only just crossed Tripolia.

In the District Collector’s chamber, a lengthy discussion took place between the district administration, Morcha office-bearers and the leaders of each dhani.

Finally, after a time-bound written agreement, the movement was ended.

A 100-percent solution to their problems could not be achieved, but complete success was obtained on issues such as voting rights, drinking water and ration cards, while only partial success was achieved on matters such as land and employment.

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There are approximately 50 brick kilns in Alwar district, where an average of 400 men, women and children work at each kiln.

These include brick moulders, loaders, unloaders, firing workers and other types of workers.

Munshis, watchmen, loaders and drivers who handle transport, accounts and other work are separate.

Thus, the total number of brick-kiln workers is between 20,000 and 25,000.

According to an assessment, perhaps the greatest open violation of labour laws among all industrial sectors takes place in the brick-kiln sector.

Workers are employed every year around Dussehra after being given an advance of ₹1,000–₹2,000 per family.

An average family of two adults and three to four minors (child labourers) works from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and produces 700–800 bricks.

The payment is ₹124 per 1,000 bricks.

Thus, the minimum wage law is also indirectly violated.

At the kilns, workers live with their entire families in prison-like 6×6 enclosures, made of raw floors, walls constructed by placing bricks one on top of another—mostly without masonry or plaster—and thatched roofs.

There is no proper arrangement for security, medical care, lighting, sanitation or drinking water.

The munshi and watchmen are essentially the owner’s hired goons, who make workers work through abuse and physical violence.

Before the rains begin, workers cannot even go to their villages during the season for happy or sad occasions.

Even when someone does go, one or two family members are detained as security.

The owner’s man is responsible for recording the work.

He arbitrarily calculates the workers’ expenses on every new moon and full moon, and irregularities in the entire account are commonplace.

Interest is charged on the so-called outstanding amount, forcing workers to work at the same kiln in the following season as well.

The above description demonstrates that child labour, bonded labour, minimum-wage violations and all other labour laws are being openly violated at brick kilns.

For the past few years, Bandhua Mukti Morcha had trained 14–15 workers and made them aware of labour laws, and had them conduct an actual survey of the kilns.

This year, after establishing contact with workers, a workers’ strike at the kilns near Alwar was first started on 12 January.

From 14 January, it was formally announced in newspapers and implemented everywhere.

When no response came from the owners even after three days, a meeting of approximately 1,000 striking workerswas held on Delhi Road.

It was decided to submit a written demand letter to the Labour Department.

On 22 January, more than 2,000 workers took out a procession from Company Bagh and reached the Labour Department.

Under the leadership of the Morcha, a memorandum containing a 14-point demand charter was submitted to the Joint Labour Commissioner, demanding an early solution to the problems.

The Labour Department immediately fixed 24 January as the date for negotiations.

At the negotiations on the 24th, office-bearers of the brick-kiln owners’ association stated that the strike was taking place at only one or two kilns and that no workers were with Bandhua Mukti Morcha.

The next date was fixed for 29 January.

On 26, 27 and 28 January, a ten-member team of Bandhua Mukti Morcha visited almost all the brick kilns in the district and addressed meetings of workers at every kiln.

Leaflets were distributed and workers’ consent was obtained on the demand charter.

The signatures and thumb impressions of workers from a total of 40 kilns were collected and submitted to the Labour Department in support of the demand charter.

At the negotiations on 29 January, after lengthy discussions, the owners agreed to increase the rate and requested 2 February as the date, promising that a final settlement would be reached on that day.

However, on 2 February, despite being given a time of 11 a.m., representatives of the owners’ association did not appear.

Even after Labour Department officials telephoned and called them, they did not come.

The workers’ side became angry.

At that moment, hundreds of workers formed a procession from the Labour Department and reached the Collectorate, raising slogans.

In the absence of the District Collector, a memorandum was submitted to Additional District Magistrate (Administration) Shri V. S. Bakawat.

It was stated that the Labour Department had proved incapable of resolving the issue.

The district administration was therefore asked to take the initiative and resolve the matter within 48 hours, failing which a rally of thousands of workers would be taken out and an indefinite dharna would begin from 5 February.

On 5 February, brick-kiln workers began arriving from the morning at Dussehra Maidan near Rao Tularam Chowk, using tractors, camel carts, etc.

Bandhua Mukti Morcha workers arranged two water tankers, a microphone/sound system, banners, placards, etc.at the rally’s starting point.

By 12 noon, approximately 10,000 brick-kiln workers had gathered.

Many groups of workers could not come because of lack of money, lack of information and because the owners forcibly stopped them.

Otherwise, 20,000 workers would have participated in the rally.

The rally began exactly at 1 p.m. from Dussehra Maidan under the guidance of Morcha national leaders Prof. Shyotaj Singh and Advocate Jagbir Singh, under the leadership of Shri Rajesh Yajnik, and under the supervision of Captain K. L. Sirohi, Virjanand Yadav, Munshi Khan, Lokesh Baronia, Batturam Jatav, Devprakash Chaudhary, Manoharkant, Dilawar Singh, Pinky Sharma, Renu, Advocate Prakash Kumari, Shekhar Upadhyay, etc.

The rally passed through Rao Tularam Chowk, Ambedkar Chowk, Bhagat Singh Chowk, Station No. 2, Ghanta Ghar, Hope Circus, Police Control Room, Vivekananda Chowk and Ladiya Gate, reaching the Collectorate at 3 p.m.

After strong slogan-raising and demonstrations, a public meeting was held.

Here too, Morcha workers had arranged water, microphones, etc.

At the meeting, all the speakers gave a detailed account of the “jungle raj” prevailing at the brick kilns and appealed to the district administration to awaken from its deep sleep and ensure compliance with the law in this sector.

After the meeting, the leaders of the rally, along with one representative from each of approximately 40 brick kilns, met District Collector Shri Tanyam Kumar.

During the meeting, surprisingly, the District Collector expressed ignorance about the matter and said that the matter had only just come to his notice and that he had only recently “joined” Alwar.

He assured them that action would be initiated within 24 hours.

On this assurance, the workers’ dharna was postponed.

On 6 February, a settlement meeting was held under the mediation of the A.D.M.

A committee was constituted under his chairmanship, consisting of the president and secretary of the owners’ association, Labour Department officials, and from the workers’ side Shri Rajesh Yajnik and Captain K. L. Sirohi.

The committee was to determine a mutually agreed rate by 12 February.

In case of disagreement, the decision of the A.D.M. would be acceptable to both parties.

On 12 February, once again breaking their promise, the owners refused to increase the rate.

Angered by this, the A.D.M. left the negotiations.

The owners, as part of a conspiracy, had a demand letter submitted to the Labour Department under the name of the Brick Kiln Workers’ Union (Mangtarama) with a back date.

Documents bearing earlier dates were prepared and several negotiations were shown as having taken place.

In the evening, when Shri Yajnik informed the District Collector about this conspiracy, he strongly reprimanded the Labour Commissioner and directed him to reach a settlement within two days.

On 14, 15 and 16 February, the owners continued bargaining for hours, increasing the rate by one rupee at a time.

The workers’ side had clearly stated that on 14 February it had been one month since the strike began on 14 Januaryand that during this period the owners had not even distributed expenses to the workers.

The workers were therefore on the verge of starvation and could leave the kilns at any time.

Under this pressure, finally on 16 February, a rate of ₹150 including commission was announced.

A promise was also made to arrange education for children at the brick kilns.

After this, the owners reorganised their association and appointed BJP MLA Shri Dharampal Chaudhary, who had entered politics from the liquor business, as president of the Brick Kiln Owners’ Association.

He made numerous baseless allegations against Morcha office-bearers in newspapers and elsewhere.

Not only that, during and after the brick-kiln workers’ movement, even to this day, Morcha leaders have periodically been subjected to threats and inducements.

The Morcha remains committed to organising the brick-kiln workers and keeping them engaged in struggle.

It is true that, as a result of this movement, for the first time in the history of the brick industry, the rate increased in one step from ₹124 to ₹150.

It has since been increased to ₹550.

However, even today, there remains a lack of education for children at the kilns, medical care for workers, safety, proper payment of wages, clean drinking water and, most importantly, the freedom to work independently or leave the work.

The Morcha will soon take effective steps in this direction.

2005 – 2014

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On 4 August 2005, a procession of hundreds of people belonging to the nomadic communities, including Banjara and Bhat, residing in the Behror Sub-Division was taken out.

A memorandum was submitted to the Sub-Divisional Officer demanding voting rights, ration cards, drinking water and residential land.

The programme was led by Rajesh Yajnik.

The programme was conducted by Mahendra Yadav, Convenor of the Morcha’s Behror branch.

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On 21 November 2005, approximately 500 men and women workers gathered at the Ramgarh Panchayat House and, under the banner of the Morcha, surrounded the S.D.M. office over various public problems.

A demand letter was subsequently submitted to the S.D.M.

As a result, within the following two months, relief in the form of water, electricity and roads was provided in approximately a dozen villages.

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In February 2007, the rate for brick-kiln workers was increased from ₹160 to ₹175 per thousand bricks.

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On 25 September 2007, a procession was taken out in Behror for the protection of the fundamental rights of the nomadic community.

A meeting was held, and Rajesh Yajnik, Virendra Chaudhary, Maulana Hanif, Surajmal Kardam, Birjanand, Rakesh Tiwari, etc., addressed it.

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Every year on 1 May, Labour Day, and on 10 December, Human Rights Day, the Morcha takes out processions with thousands of members.

During September–October, the Morcha also has to organise strikes, processions and demonstrations with brick-kiln workers for increasing their wage rates. Only after these actions do brick-kiln owners increase the wage rate.

For work such as securing compensation for workers injured during work and obtaining payment for work already performed, struggles are undertaken through telephone calls and written representations, with the cooperation of the Labour Department, police and administration.

For nomadic-community families—including Banjara, Nat, Bhil, Sansi, etc.—efforts are made to secure basic civic rights such as ration cards, voting rights, residential land, drinking water and schools for children, and to settle groups of 10, 20 or 50 families at one location. At times this requires cooperation from the administration and at other times struggle.

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In February 2014, approximately 100 brick-kiln workers in Alwar went on strike.

As part of this, a dharna was held and memoranda were submitted to the Labour Commissioner and District Collector.

Finally, on 1 March 2013, a complaint letter was submitted to Labour Minister Shri Mangilal Garasia along with thousands of workers.

As a result, the rate for laying 1,000 bricks was increased from ₹450 to ₹500, with ₹30 as Jamadar commission fixed separately.

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On 12 March 2014, a demonstration was held at the Labour Department.

A memorandum was submitted regarding difficulties being faced in the registration of construction workers.

From that day, registration every Tuesday and renewal every Wednesday was fixed for workers of Alwar district.

2015 – 2026

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On 8 October 2015, Rajesh Yajnik, Harkesh Bugalia and Virendra Chaudhary participated along with 50 workers from Alwar and 250 workers from Jaipur in a demonstration at the Labour Department in Jaipur against the discontinuation of assistance for daughters’ marriages.

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On 11 April 2016, women office-bearers of Bandhua Mukti Morcha participated in ongoing dharnas against liquor shops at various places in Alwar city.

The Morcha expressed its support and cooperation to the women conducting the dharnas.

The group included Renu, Daya Gupta, Daya Garg, Rachna Singh, Khushbu Khandelwal, Seema Saini, etc.

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On 3 May 2016, a demonstration demanding prohibition of liquor was held under the leadership of Bandhua Mukti’s National Vice-President Swami Aryavesh and Arya Samaj’s Satyavrat Samvedi.

Morcha Rajasthan State President Rajesh Yajnik also participated.

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On 1 May 2023, Bandhua Mukti Morcha took out a procession and held a demonstration demanding from the State Government that worker cards should be issued to workers employed under the urban employment scheme, because workers employed under MGNREGA in rural areas had previously been considered eligible.

Positive action followed and such workers are now receiving worker cards.

Similarly, it was demanded that people who have received worker cards should be included in the Food Security Scheme. The Government has also accepted this demand.

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On 22 July 2023, a protest demonstration was organised at Shaheed Smarak, Alwar, by the Sadbhav Manch against the violence and atrocities against women in Manipur.

A demand was made for strict action against those responsible.

Present were Rajesh Yajnik, Rajkumar Bakshi, Tejpal Saini, Shifat Manager, Gajraj Singh, Manmohan Saini, Raisa, Srishti, Sahun Khan, Sardar Amardeep Singh, Thomas, etc.

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On 26 September 2024, Rajasthan State President of Bandhua Mukti Morcha Rajesh Yajnik sent a letter to Rajasthan Chief Minister Shri Bhajan Lal Sharma welcoming the State Government’s decision to provide residential land leases through Gram Panchayats to homeless and nomadic people.

The letter demanded that a land survey be conducted so that nomadic people living at the foothills of the hills could also benefit from the scheme.

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On 10 October 2024, a memorandum was submitted to Deputy Labour Commissioner Shri Rakesh Chaudhary, warning of agitation if pending applications from several years were not acted upon promptly.

A positive result followed: during November and December 2024, scholarship applications that had remained pending for years were disposed of.

Action was also being investigated on death-assistance applications.

Applications under the Shubh Shakti Scheme were still pending.

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On 10 December 2024, Human Rights Day was observed at Raj Gupta Auditorium.

Information was provided about human rights and emphasis was placed on strengthening the organisation for the struggle for rights.

On this occasion, Rajesh Yajnik, Virendra Chaudhary, Raj Gupta, Manju Sharma, Prasadi, Santosh, Mantram, Laxmi Devi, Pooja Prajapat, Asha, Sangeeta, Kanta, Prabhujit Singh, As Mohammad, etc., expressed their views.

The programme was chaired by Deepchand and conducted by Renu Gupta.

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On 6 March 2025, a workers’ union delegation travelled from Alwar to Jaipur and participated in a workers’ rally.

The rally concluded with a dharna and demonstration at the Labour Department headquarters.

The delegation included Rajesh Yajnik, Parsadi Lal, Deepchand, Prabhujit Singh, Dulichand, Raju Banjara, Matadin and Santosh.

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On 7, 8 and 9 March 2025, Rajesh Yajnik and Renu Gupta participated in the Arya Vidwat Sammelan in Rohtak.

Swami Ramdev, Kailash Satyarthi, Swami Aryavesh and hundreds of distinguished people participated in the conference.

Rajesh Yajnik and Renu Gupta were honoured on the occasion.

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On 6 April 2025, Rajesh Yajnik participated in a dharna organised against the Nilgai killing law.

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On 10 July 2025, the Rajasthan Construction and General Workers’ Union also supported a nationwide strike.

A large number of MGNREGA workers and masons and labourers associated with the union boycotted work.

Union State President Rajesh Yajnik demanded from the Central Government a minimum wage of ₹18,000 and a pension of ₹3,000 per month.

Prasadi Jatav, Deepchand Balai, Santosh Saini, Gayatri Devi, Kanta Devi, etc., were present in making the strike successful.

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On 12 September 2025, a memorandum was submitted to the Labour Commissioner in Jaipur regarding workers’ problems under the Building Construction Workers’ Rights Front, on behalf of workers belonging to seven unions.

Rajasthan Construction and General Workers’ Union State President Rajesh Yajnik stated that the memorandum demanded resolution of workers’ problems.

The LDMS team, which had previously not been available, had now resumed work.

It was decided that on the 25th of every month, Labour Officers in all districts would hear workers’ problems along with workers’ unions at the Labour Department offices and work towards resolving them.