Free India, Bonded Labourers

 

 

Prasoon S. Majumdar’s article “63 years and bonded labour” (TSI, Aug 23-29) was very touching. Every right thinking individual will sympathise with those bonded labourers who are just not permitted to live as they would want to. Amongst all the contemporary issues the country is confronted with, slavery is one of the most heart-rending because in slavery, both the mind and the body are at the mercy of somebody more powerful. It is quite pathetic that though the country has achieved freedom more than six decades ago, there are still sections of the society who have failed to break free from the clutches of bondage. The primary cause for bonded labour is abject poverty and unless that is tackled, slave era will continue to exist. Human Rights organisations and social activists could survey various rice mills, bidi factories as well as construction, gem-cutting, weaving and other such units to save those trapped therein and offer them a chance to survive in a dignified manner.

Prem K Menon
Mumbai