Thousands of migrant brick kiln workers and their families in Bihar’s Sheikhpura district are gaining access to education, identity documents and government welfare through Project Swabhimaan, an integrated governance initiative led by Shekhar Anand (IAS, 2018 batch), Collector and District Magistrate of Sheikhpura. Launched in February 2026, the district-wide programme seeks to address the long-standing exclusion faced by migrant labourers by bringing together multiple government departments under a single strategy.
Following a detailed survey conducted by the district administration with Neev Ki Eent Foundation as its knowledge and implementation partner, officials identified over 8,000 migrant workers and 3,000 children across 55 brick kilns, many of whom lacked birth certificates, Aadhaar cards, caste certificates, health insurance and bank accounts.
The initiative has since facilitated more than 15,000 government documents, established Akshar Learning Centres in every brick kiln, enrolled hundreds of children in schools and Anganwadis, and introduced what the district describes as India’s first Heat Resilience Centre inside a brick kiln. Speaking about the vision behind the initiative, Shekhar Anand said the goal is to ensure that “no child should inherit poverty because of the place they are born”, while replacing “bricks in children’s hands with books.” The district administration is now documenting the model with the aim of encouraging replication in other parts of Bihar and India.
Taking Governance to Those Left Behind
For decades, India’s brick kiln workers have remained among the country’s least visible communities, often migrating seasonally in search of work while living outside the reach of education, healthcare and social welfare systems. During his training at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration and later while serving as Deputy Development Commissioner in Rohtas, Shekhar Anand witnessed the challenges faced by these migrant families.
Those experiences shaped a simple but significant question: Why should a child born in a brick kiln be denied opportunities available to every other child? After taking charge as District Magistrate of Sheikhpura, the administration undertook a comprehensive survey that revealed widespread exclusion. More than 75 per cent of children lacked birth certificates, over 70 per cent had no Aadhaar cards, around 86 per cent were without caste certificates, nearly 87 per cent did not possess Ayushman Bharat health cards and close to 59 per cent of adults had no bank accounts. Rather than treating these as isolated issues, the district administration brought together departments including Education, Health, ICDS, Labour, Revenue, Social Welfare and Rural Development to work through a common convergence model. As part of this effort, Akshar Learning Centres have been established in all 55 brick kilns, supported by 71 Shiksha Sevaks and 55 Chief Minister’s Pratigya Interns. So far, more than 600 children have been enrolled or linked to schools, while over 250 younger children have been connected to Anganwadi services.
In another notable intervention, the administration established a Heat Resilience Centre within a brick kiln to provide a safe cooling space that also functions as a learning centre, reading corner and community hub. Reflecting on the larger vision, Shekhar Anand said he hopes children from brick kiln communities will one day become doctors, engineers, teachers, civil servants and entrepreneurs because the system gave them an equal opportunity to succeed.
A Model Built on Convergence and Dignity
Project Swabhimaan represents a shift from scheme-based implementation towards citizen-centred governance. Instead of requiring migrant workers to travel from one office to another, the administration has attempted to deliver multiple services directly at brick kiln sites. One of the initiative’s most significant achievements has been restoring legal identity to thousands of workers by facilitating over 15,000 official documents for families from Sheikhpura district. Recognising that many labourers migrate from neighbouring districts, the District Magistrate also initiated coordination by writing to other District Magistrates so that workers could continue accessing government benefits irrespective of where they were employed.
The project’s partnership with Neev Ki Eent Foundation has supported the district administration in understanding community needs and implementing interventions on the ground. Officials believe that securing legal identity is the first step towards broader social inclusion, enabling access to education, healthcare, financial services and welfare schemes that many families had previously been excluded from.
Since its launch in February 2026, Project Swabhimaan has expanded to cover all brick kilns in Sheikhpura, with the administration now documenting its approach as a potential model for other districts. Given that millions of workers across India remain employed in the brick kiln sector, the initiative demonstrates how existing government resources can be integrated to address multiple forms of exclusion simultaneously rather than through isolated interventions.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Project Swabhimaan reminds us that meaningful governance begins by recognising the people who have remained invisible for far too long. For migrant brick kiln workers, exclusion has rarely been limited to income alone. It has often meant growing up without identity documents, missing years of schooling, lacking access to healthcare and remaining outside public systems designed to support citizens.
Sheikhpura’s approach shows that addressing these challenges does not necessarily require entirely new schemes, but stronger coordination, empathy and the willingness to meet communities where they are. By bringing education, documentation, climate resilience and welfare services directly to brick kilns, the district administration has demonstrated how governance can become more inclusive and responsive.
While long-term success will depend on sustained implementation and replication, the initiative offers a hopeful example of how public institutions can help break cycles of intergenerational poverty through dignity rather than charity.
What more can governments, civil society and local communities do together to ensure that no child is denied opportunities simply because of where they are born?
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