The Mysore district administration has decided to rehabilitate bonded labourers by providing them houses under the Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation as well as opportunities for self-employment.
Chairing a district vigilance committee meeting on the bonded labour abolition programme here on Wednesday, Deputy Commissioner C. Shikha said they should be provided cars through the Tourism Department so that they could be self-employed.
She agreed that the monthly pension of Rs. 300 that is paid for two years after rescuing bonded labourers may not be sufficient to rehabilitate them.
Ms. Shikha directed the officials to examine if benefits under the Ganga Kalyana scheme could be extended to them. She also directed the Assistant Commissioners of two sub-divisions in Mysore district to hold similar meetings in their jurisdiction and find out whether there were any bonded labourers in their area and rescue and rehabilitate them immediately.
A non-governmental organisation working in the Hunsuru sub-division alleged that there were over 50 bonded labourers. Ms. Shikha directed the Assistant Commissioner of Hunsuru sub-division to verify the claim and submit a report within 15 days. She asked officials to make Mysore “bonded labour free district.”
