Indore: Labourer sells himself for Rs 50,000; pleads for justice

A labourer from Indore took a loan of Rs 50,000 three years ago from a farmer. In order to repay his debt, he along with his wife started working for the farmer as bonded labours. With time, when the farmer started exploiting and harassing the couple, they decided to seek justice.

Indore:Enslaving a person for his unpaid debt seems a thing of past. But it still continues to haunt vulnerable people. Anandilal, a labour from Indore found himself in a helpless situation three years ago when he had to pay Rs 50,000 for his son's bail.

Roop Singh Dangi, a farmer lent him the money but the loan didn't come at an easy price. Anandilal had to sell himself and his wife against the loan. In other words, they became bonded labourers.

Bonded labour - or debt bondage - is a method of enslaving people. A person becomes a bonded labourer when their labour is demanded as a means of repayment for a loan. The person is then tricked or trapped into working for very little or no pay. It is prohibited in India by Articles 21 and 23 of the Constitution. A specific law to prohibit the practice was legislated only in 1976 known as the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act.

Anandilal and his wife were subjected to mistreatments and abuse which worsened their living conditions. The debt of Rs 50,00 was increased to 1lakh by Dangi and even after working for three years, the couple couldn't relieve themselves.

One day when Anandilal couldn't handle the harassment he ran off and reached police station for help. "He threatens to kill us if we leave the work. The debt should have been recovered by now as we worked for three years for him but he is adamant in not releasing us. He exploits me and my wife and we are helpless," he said while his torn clothes and gloomy eyes speak for his misery.

Senior Superintendent of Police, Ruchi Wardhan Mishra assured Anandilal to provide him with justice soon. An investigation in the matter is underway.

The Ministry of Labour, Government of India initiated a Centrally Sponsored Scheme under which Rs. 20,000 is provided for the rehabilitation of each bonded labourer, to be equally contributed by the Centre and the State Governments.

In the case of North Eastern States, 100% central assistance is to be provided if they express their inability to provide their share. But, by and large, the process of rehabilitation is poor and is frequently delayed, particularly in the case of inter-state bonded migrant labourers, and the degree of concerted convergent action required on the part of the administration is rarely forthcoming. Prosecution of employers is also weak.

Since the bonded labourers are very poor, most of them relapse into bondage, while others experience only a very marginal increase in income. The financial assistance from the government, even if realised, in the absence of any additional support mechanism for a released and assetless labourer is not sufficient to support to start a new life. However, increasing the quantum of the support amount is not a viable solution. Instead to end the practice, what is required is the strict implementation of labour laws in India.