Regional Workshop on Bonded Labour in Chennai
The National Human Rights Commission organised a 'Regional Workshop on Elimination of Bonded Labour' in collaboration with the Government of Tamil Nadu for the States of Tamil Nadu and Kerala at Chennai on the 7th August, 2015. The aim of the Workshop was to sensitize the District Magistrates/Sub-Divisional Magistrates, State Labour Officers and conceptualize the definitional clarity about the strategy and methodology of identification, release and rehabilitation of bonded labourers.
Addressing the participants, Justice Shri Cyriac Joseph, Acting Chairperson, NHRC raised concerns on the continuance of bonded labour and their rescue, relief and rehabilitation as per the provisions of Bonded Labour System (Prohibition) Act. He said that it is incumbent upon the official functionaries, particularly at the District level, to make themselves aware of the provisions of law in this regard.
NHRC Member, Justice Shri D. Murugesan said that the spirit of the Bonded Labour Act is to abolish the bonded labour system and not to regulate it. He threw light on various provisions of the Act and practical applicability thereof. He also explained the procedure to be followed if a victim of bonded labour is a child or belongs to the SC/ST community. He emphasized upon the importance of expeditious rehabilitation of released bonded labourers including the prescribed amount of official relief, food, housing, employment, medical care and education for their children.
Justice Smt. T. Meenakumari, Chairperson, Tamil Nadu State Human Rights Commission, Justice Shri J.B. Koshy, Chairperson, Kerala State Human Rights Commission, Shri Satya Narayan Mohanty, Secretary General, NHRC also addressed the participants. Dr. Ranjit Singh, JS (P&A), NHRC and other senior officers of NHRC, State Governments, representatives of NGOs, employers and victims, Professors of Ethiraj College and Madras University were present. The students of Ethiraj College also staged a drama for creating awareness on abolition of bonded labour.
This was 32nd Workshop organised as part of the NHRC's endeavour to sensitize official machinery to work for the abolition of bonded labour in different parts of the country.