Campaign seeks end to bonded labour

A poignant, realistic portrayal of the difficulties faced by bonded labourers helped drive home the harsh reality of the practice in the country.

The Mugavari Cultural Troupe performed a 20-minute street play on Thursday highlighting the lack of minimum wages, access to health and education, the right to sell labour at market value and to seek employment elsewhere as the main ingredients that make bonded labour a form of “modern slavery”. The troupe, which will travel throughout the State, hopes to spread awareness on the issue.

Tamil Nadu was estimated to have about ten lakh bonded labourers, according to a Supreme Court Commission Survey in 1995, said Hephzibah Sunder of International Justice Mission (IJM), which is co-organising the campaign with Loyola College.

“The caged bird still sings. Our country is not free at all,” said Rev. Fr. Maria Francis J., rector of the college, adding that casteism has made people stand outside humanity. About 86.6 per cent of the labourers were from SC/ST communities, according to an estimate by the Ministry of Labour. He added that about 300 students will volunteer for the campaign. The institute will also aid in research for executing a survey of bonded labourers in the State, Fr. Francis said.

Governor K. Rosaiah, who launched the campaign, said it was a shame that bonded labour still prevailed in society.

“We boast of being one of the largest democratic countries in the world. Our constitution guarantees freedom and equality. But the Global Slavery Index 2013 indicates that 13.9 million people are estimated to be enslaved in India, with most being trapped under the bonded labour system. A joint and concerted effort from all quarters is required to put an end to its prevalence,” he said.

The hotline for reporting bonded labour is 805608000.