With slavery in poultry farms in the district continue to be a major issue, an eight-member theatre group conducted street plays explaining the evils of the bonded labour system and the initiatives taken by the government to overcome it.
Aimed at vulnerable communities in villages, each artist explains how families get trapped in bondage and the suffering they undergo in the hands of the owners and others. Artist explains the ways to avail the government schemes and improve their livelihood. They were part of the state-wide street theatre performances covering all the 32 districts to disseminate the message against bonded labour.
A district level sensitisation campaign against bonded labour was held at Alanganatham village here on Saturday that was organised by Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department of the State Government in association with International Justice Mission and Lead Society, both NGO’s.
Speaking on the occasion, District Adi Dravidar Welfare Officer K.S. Muralikrishnan said that 610 bonded labourers were rescued in the State in 2014-15 of which 140 were rescued in Namakkal district.
Revenue Divisional Officer, Namakkal, M. Kannan said that bonded labourers system exists in brick kiln units, quarries, flour mills, farm lands, textile units and in poultry farms. If people coming across such labourers, they can contact 80560-80000 or Childline 1098 so that they can be rescued, he added.
Laws related to abolition of bonded labour system and how it affects the family and society were explained through the street plays.
Director of Leaf Society S.L. Sathyanesan, Clement David from International Justice Mission, Alanganatham Panchayat president Muthammal and others spoke.
