Rehabilitation eludes rescued labourers

BALANGIR: Tejraj Chhatriya of Sargul village under Icchapara gram panchayat in Muribahal block and his family were freed from bondage at a brick kiln on March 21, last year. Another 28 of six families, belonging to the district, could also break the shackles and return home.    The 29 are now contemplating to return to the brick kilns with no sign of the rehabilitation they were promised by the  district administration.  Being landless and neither enrolled under BPL category nor issued job cards under  MGNREGS, they are left with little option in their struggle for survival. And the search for livelihood often force them to unknown terrains including Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad, Berhampur, Raipur besides other places. In November 2010, the family of Tejraj Chhatriya had taken an advance of ` 32,000 from a local labour sardar Aswini Patra and migrated to work in the brick kiln of Uddama Chandra Reddy in Ranga Reddy district of Andhra Pradesh. Although they were promised all facilities, on their arrival they found themselves living in inhuman surroundings sans basic amenities. Moreover, they were forced to toil for 18 to 20 hours a day and were given a meagre ` 250 against food every week for a family of four which was insufficient.  While at the kiln, Tejraj could know that Census was underway. Ignorant about the purpose of Census, he thought that the enrolment would help him to avail of all benefits which would put a stop on migration. He approached the owner for leave but was denied. Finally, one night Tejraj tried to escape but was caught and beaten up severely. The incident brought more miseries for Tejraj and his mobile phones were seized. Despite the vigil over him, Tejraj managed to inform his people back home who approached the local authorities including police with the help of an NGO. But when nothing came up, a volunteer Dharma Sahu accompanied by one Anam Benia rushed to Hyderabad on March 18, last year and met the local District Labour Officer. Later with help of local Tehsildar and police 64 persons of 23 families held up as bonded labourers were rescued, 28 among them were from village Sargul alone. Subsequently, the brick kiln owner was arrested and 49 labourers, excluding the children, were paid ` 1,000 each by the Ranga Reddy district administration. They also wrote to the Balangir district administration to provide them with ` 19,000 under the Bonded Labour Abolition Act, 1976, and rehabilitate all the bonded labourers in the home district. Although the Andhra Pradesh government sent the labourers to Titlagarh from Hyderabad accompanied by police personnel,  till date they have not received the compensation. And this is not a solitary case, more than 500 rescued labourers are waiting for financial assistance under the Act. Collector S N Deo said the list had been forwarded to the State Government and they would be paid once funds are allocated.