Jairam Ramesh Denounces Bonded Labour in Odisha

Bandhua 1947 and The National Rural Livelihoods Mission demand a concrete state government plan to fight bonded labour.

New Delhi, January 9, 2013: Last month’s horrific case of migrant labour abuse in Odisha’s Bolangir district resulted in a surge of attention surrounding the all-too common crime that plagues nearly 12 million Indian citizens – many of whom live in the most rural and backward regions of the country. Migrant workers, Nilambar Dhangda Majhi and Bialu Majhi, survived brutal torture after illegal labour contractors chopped off the their hands and left them for dead in a jungle. Ever since the crime took place, Union Rural Development Minister, Jairam Ramesh, has pressured Odisha’s state government to address bonded labour, even publicly denouncing the senseless act of violence in a letter to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. “Keeping politics aside we must acknowledge that Odisha is one of the worst affected states in terms of bonded labour. The National Rural Livelihoods Mission has started special livelihood projects for the rehabilitation of bonded labour. Looking forward to working with the state government to put an end to this horrendous practice.”

The joint initiative between the Bandhua 1947 campaign and the National Rural Livelihoods Mission is set to locate and rehabilitate bonded labourers by inclusion in self-help groups and their federations, provision of soft loans and vulnerability reduction funds, and special projects for alternative livelihoods including skill development interventions. Furthermore, Bandhua 1947 and the NRLM demand a concrete state action plan in Odisha to tackle bonded labour.

“Without a comprehensive state action plan as well as a strong political will to implement this, it is impossible to deal with bonded labour in Odisha effectively,” said Shantanu Dutta, convener of the Bandhua 1947 campaign.

A state action plan is a detailed and comprehensive strategy that government officials in every state could utilize to efficiently execute the law that was passed in 1976 to abolish bonded labour. It would serve to instruct district administrations on how to identify bonded labour and ensure that victims are rescued and rehabilitated. Nilambar and Bialu remained hospitalized in critical condition for days following the incident. Bandhua 1947 field workers have been instrumental in ensuring the men receive release certificates and rehabilitation services. Following increased pressure from civil society organisations, central government and the National Human Rights Commission, the Odisha state government has promised Rs. 4 lakhs to each of the victims and access to Chief Minister Relief funds to cover the costs of their treatment.

Bonded labour is a crime that has especially plagued vulnerable communities in Odisha’s Kalahandi, Nuapada and Bolangir districts. Last year, NGO Aide-et-Action conducted a micro-level study on vulnerability and migration in these villages and that found that thousands of small and marginal farmers were migrating due to failure to repay loans.

Rehabilitation through Collectivisation

Adivasi Solidarity Council (ASC) has been organising released bonded labourers into groups and simultaneously working with their communities in order to socially include them back into their societies. Various training and capacity building exercises help these individuals to get back into normalcy of life. These groups are mainly tribal rights based groups (sangas), which helps them to bond together. Such sangas are currently formed across the southern states In India.

In one such case, two proactive individuals Mr Gopi and Mr Murugesan (who were bonded laborers before) were identified and were provided leadership training. These two individuals   along with ASC team began to work with other group members to understand their skill sets and started identifying their requirements for a proper livelihood. The group showed interest in setting up a brick making unit of their own. ASC provided small seed capital of Rs. 15,000 and other necessary support to set up the unit. Some money was pooled in by the group members from the money saved from their rehabilitation amount and back wages. Monetary support was also provided by the perspective buyers who needed bricks and were ready to give advance amount for such a noble cause. The local panchayat was also convinced to lease out a portion of land (at a minimal amount/village tax). With the land in place, the initial capital outlay to set up the unit came to about Rs. 1 lakh. Seven more families invested money to set up the unit.

This small kiln has been functioning now for two years. The labourers, from the Irula Tribal community, are able to earn on an average of Rs. 300/- per day. During the monsoon season not much activity happens and they opt for MGNREGA. The women folk have gotten involved with SHG related activities.

This collective initiative has helped the members to support their families and promote regular savings out of their earnings. These members do not allow any money-lenders or agents to enter into their village. With the prime leadership of Mr Gopi and Mr Murugesan , this Irula brick production unit is now successfully running with the whole hearted participation and hard-work of all its members belonging to same tribal Community.

Gopi, Murugesan and the others now have a voice in the panchayat. Since, they represent seventy votes in their village and are earning well, their status has risen. Gopi and Murugesan are also working as volunteers for ASC and thus helping others to be rescued from such exploitation and look for a better life ahead. By narrating their life story at various national platforms, they are helping advocacy organisations in fight against bondage to influence policy decisions.

In short, they are now role models for others individual trapped in this system of bondage.

NRLM Partners with Bandhua 1947 to Combat Bonded Labour

A moment that had many of us at the Bandhua 1947 office celebrating was the statement made by Jairam Ramesh, expressing his keenness for the government to be a part of the national campaign against bonded labour.

“We cannot say that we have abolished bonded labour. It may be true on paper and we have laws on it, but we haven’t managed to finish it,” said Jairam Ramesh, Union Minister for Rural Development. He admitted that millions were still enslaved, even four decades after India enacted the Bonded Labour System Abolition Act in 1976.

“Under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission umbrella, we will begin pilot projects in 10 districts which are considered to have a substantial population of bonded labourers. We will locate the bonded labourers there, get surveys done, rehabilitate them and create conditions for alternative livelihood,” he said to the media.

Why are we so elated? Because in order for freedom to prevail, the system needs to change. For years, states governments have sworn that there is no bonded labour in their states, but the media has played a massive role to bring the truth to the surface. After umpteen media reports on bondage and slavery, the government has decided to step up to the plate. The NRLM has signed up to be an institutional partner of the Bandhua 1947 campaign.

What does this mean? Starting December 2013, NRLM will fund projects in the districts of Gaya (Bihar), Bastar & Kondagaon (Chhattisgarh), Bolangir & Naupada (Odisha), Gumla (Jharkhand), Prakasam & Chittoor (Andhra Pradesh), Kanchipuram & Vellore (Tamil Nadu). They will help locate and rehabilitate bonded labourers by inclusion in self-help groups and their federations, provision of soft loans and vulnerability reduction funds, and special projects for alternative livelihoods including skill development interventions. Sarada Muraleedharan, COO of the NRLM also stated that convergence with the interventions of the Ministry of Labour for rehabilitation of bonded labour are also underway.