Stories about children’s days
Jhilik, 16 year old girl
About Jhilik’s life
Jhilik lives with her parents and two younger sisters in Balurmath. Their home is a one roomed unit on the first floor of a two-story building with access to a shared toilet and a shared, open-air kitchen. Her parents chose this house because their floor of the building had a separate gas line. But after some internal quarrels, some tenants cut the gas line, and now they cannot use the kitchen on the first floor because the price of one gas cylinder is too much for them to bear. The family go downstairs and cook on the organic stove out in the open. The family have lived in the building for almost two years now. With the gas line connected, the rent was BDT 2,500 (US $23) per month; now it is BDT 2,200 (US $20).
On 16 March Jhilik was accompanied throughout her day by a CLARISSA researcher. She spent most of her day working drying leather in the sun and says that this is a typical day for her.
You need to drink water constantly if you work under the sun like me, but If I drink too much water, I will have to pee a lot. I cannot afford that, as I have to go home every time I need a bathroom break
Pinning leather to the ground
Jhilik rarely goes anywhere as she is always working. A highlight of her day is going to the market, which she doesn’t always have money to do.
Jhilik is fearful of her neighbourhood, which she describes as a very dangerous place. It is frequented by drug addicts, who harass young girls. The immediate vicinity of her home is very dark at night, with no street lighting at all. Jhilik never walks alone on the road. Her youngest sister is always with her if her parents are busy.
“When the sun shines and it becomes unbearable, other people go to take a rest, but I go to work”
Leather pinned out to dry on open ground
Jhjilik in her workplace
Jhilik’s place of work is an open place situated beside the river. There are wooden boards placed upon the ground and raw, wet leather pieces are nailed onto them. Jhilik dries up to 400-500 pieces of leather a day, which hurts her back. The family needs bright sunshine in order to do their work, which makes the work hot and dehydrating. A supervisor is always present, watching the family closely from a nearby shed.
Jhilik’s home is within walking distance of the fields
It takes Jhilik and her family 5-6 minutes to get from home to work. She returns home to use the bathroom and to take her breakfast and lunch.
Jhilik is looking forward to starting work at a shoe factory after Eid ul Fitr. She feels she will be safer working inside the factory.
Jhilik walking near her home
Jhilik’s day
Jhjilik’s experience
I wake up very early in the morning and I go to work straight away without having breakfast. Work is near to my home, but I am still very sleepy and just want to sleep a little bit more.
Researcher’s experience
There is a water pump on the ground floor for washing but fairly often this water line is jammed or totally shut off. It is very difficult for the family during these times.
A shed in a leather drying field
Jhilik’s experience
This work requires real stamina. I have to knock the nails into the board so that the leather can dry properly.
After every batch is pinned down, I get a break. I sit in the shed.
I go home for 10 minutes to take a bathroom break. I do not take many breaks, but whenever I need to go to the toilet I go home. I don’t like to use the bathroom that is here for the workers. It is not clean at all.
I go home to have breakfast when the first batch of today’s leather is drying. I have breakfast with my family. I am lucky today that I have my breakfast early. If it were a brighter, sunnier day, I would have to spend more time working before getting a break.
I have more energy after breakfast. But it would be nice if I could get a bit more rest – that is not possible at all. Once a batch of leather has dried out, I have to pick up all the pieces quickly and start drying another batch.
The supervisor provides us with different snacks every day. Maybe samosas, with tea. I take a break for half an hour and talk to everybody. It’s a fun time for us.
It is not sunny today. Without the scorching sun over my head, it is not bad working here. I had some snacks at 12 pm and then went home for lunch around 3pm. Now I am working again.
I feel relaxed today. I can finish work early before dusk because it is not very sunny today.
Researcher’s experience
Jhilik works alongside her family. She does not have any peers to talk to during her long working day.
Jhilik hammers nails into the wet pieces of leather, stretching out the leather at the same time. Later she unpicks the nails and picks up and piles up the dry leather. Her back hurts from crouching down all day.
When other people retreat from the most extreme heat of the day, Jhilik and her family must work – the hotter the sun the more leather they can dry. It is extremely tiring, and dehydration is a constant problem.
Jhilik’s little sister sits in the shed next to the leather drying field all day (or for as many hours as her parents and sister are working to dry leather). Her parents do not want to leave her alone at home so she simply sits in the shed. Instead of being at kindergarten or playing with friends in the neighbourhood, this six-year-old child sits under a flimsy structure on hot sand, with no source of entertainment except a smartphone that belongs to her sister.
A busy market
Jhilik’s experience
I don’t have the money to go to the market every week but when I do go, I feel really good. The crowd does not bother me as much as the streets of my own home do when I have to go outside after dark.
I am a bit sad that I do not have lots of money right now to buy whatever I want. I am with my friends. I feel good. It is almost evening though so I will have to return home quickly.
I like to come to this market whenever I get a chance. But it is so crowded today…it is too hectic and there are lots of mosquitoes. But I really like coming here.
Researcher’s experience
Jhilik leaves for the market, with her sister, picking up some friends on the way. The four girls walk together towards the market. They seem very excited, chatting to each other all the way.
It is a very busy market with lots of people and stalls selling everything from clothes to utensils to shoes and street food. Jhilik walks around with her sister but does not buy anything. She helps her friend choose some clothes.
This is the only time I see Jhilik laughing and having a good time. When she is working she has no other girls of her age to talk to. There is little joy in Jhilik’ childhood. She has no source of education or age-appropriate entertainment in her life.
In terms of her personal safety the area closest to her home is the most dangerous place for Jhilik. Whenever she goes outside or walks to the fields where she works, she feels scared and unsafe. The busy shopping area very close to her home is also a place where drug takers gather every day after dark.
Jhilik’s experience
I make TikTok videos sometimes. But I do not have much time to make them regularly. I also chat with my friends on Messenger, even though they live close by. I like to have fun with my sisters as well, but I feel tired after coming back from work. So I mostly sleep or watch Facebook posts.
Researcher’s experience
In the evening Jhilik goes on Facebook and chats with her friends on Messenger and watches TikTok videos. At this point (after 6.30pm) it is dark, both outside and in Jhilik’s poorly lit home.
The lighting in the building is extremely low and at night the family’s accommodation is virtually dark. The toilet has no lighting at all. If they need to use the toilet after dinner, they have to go downstairs.
Jhilik is tired and usually goes to bed shortly after 9pm, when the family have eaten their evening meal. Sometimes however, when the shared open-air kitchen is busy, Jhilik must go to bed much later as her family’s cooking and eating time is delayed.
Explore Jhilik’s journey
Rama, 17, supports her family by working as a beautician in the daytime and as a dancer in a dance bar at night.
Supriya, 16, works in a party palace (party venue) from 5pm until midnight.
Pema, 15, works in events catering in the afternoons and evenings, after going to college in the morning.
Khem, 17, has worked for a relative in a khaja ghar (small eatery) since he was ten years old.