They seek comprehensive rehabilitation
Freed bonded labourers took out a protest march from the Town Hall Circle to the Deputy Commissioner’s office here on Thursday demanding comprehensive rehabilitation for all freed bonded labourers who were given identity cards in August 2012 in Pavagada taluk in the district.
State president of Jeetha Vimukthi Karnataka K. Nagaraj demanded that the State government give compensation within a week to all such bonded labourers. He demanded job cards and at least 100 days of work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme or unemployment allowance for them.
He said that the government had to give Rs. 1,000 to each one of the bonded labourers immediately after the identity cards were issued . Then, within two months, the government had to release Rs. 19,000 but not a single paise had been given to them.
Meanwhile, the agitators demanded that the State government rehabilitate them and provide them with employment or unemployment allowance. They demanded compensation to the families of dead bonded labourers, to provide them skill-based training and give 2 acres of land to the families of the bonded labourers.
Freed bonded labourer Nagappa from Byadanuru in Pavagada taluk told The Hindu , “I am not getting any work in the village and hence, I am forced to go to my old employer for work as my family is dependent on me.”
He said that the government should provide him work and help him lead a life with respect.
More than 100 freed bonded labourers shouted slogans against the government during the agitation.
