<p>Kalaburagi: Senior civil judge and District Legal Services Authority member secretary Srinivas Navale said that officials should work hard to identify the bonded labourers and rehabilitate them.</p><p>He was speaking after inaugurating a Bonded Labour Abolition Day programme jointly organised by the district administration, Zilla Panchayat, District Legal Services Authority, Labour Department and Women and Child Development Department at the old Zilla Panchayat office here on Friday. </p><p>Stating that the bonded labour system, which deprives a person of his freedom, existed not only in our country but also abroad, he said that foreigners succeeded in abolishing it by implementing strict laws. But the system has not been completely stopped in India even though a law was enacted in this regard in 1976, he regretted. </p><p><strong>‘It’s crime now’</strong></p><p>“A labourer works for low wages in the hands of a person who provides him a loan to get rid of his debt. The poor used to suffer in such an unfair system. </p><p>“They were given less food and made to work more. His wife and children had to work to pay off the loan. </p><p>“Now, keeping labourers in bondage is a crime and such people can be punished with up to three years in jail”, he said.</p><p>Pointing out that a committee has been formed under the chairmanship of the deputy commissioner to keep vigil on the bonded labour menace, he said that all the departments should work with proper co-ordination and responsibility to eradicate it. Action should be taken against the officials who do not work properly in this regard, he added.</p><p><strong>‘Create awareness’</strong></p><p>Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Bhanwar Singh Meena said that children working in dhabas and other places are called child labourers. </p><p>“We can find the system of bondage labour in these workplaces. Therefore, officials should identify such people and create public awareness in this regard. The committees meant for this have to conduct regular meetings to provide victims with all facilities after they are freed from bondage”, he advised. </p><p>District Labour Officer Sharanappa R H, Regional Deputy Labour Commissioner Venkatesh Shindihatti, Women and Child Development Department Deputy Director Rajkumar Rathod, Santosh Kulkarni and Gurubai Patil were present.</p>
<p>Kalaburagi: Senior civil judge and District Legal Services Authority member secretary Srinivas Navale said that officials should work hard to identify the bonded labourers and rehabilitate them.</p><p>He was speaking after inaugurating a Bonded Labour Abolition Day programme jointly organised by the district administration, Zilla Panchayat, District Legal Services Authority, Labour Department and Women and Child Development Department at the old Zilla Panchayat office here on Friday. </p><p>Stating that the bonded labour system, which deprives a person of his freedom, existed not only in our country but also abroad, he said that foreigners succeeded in abolishing it by implementing strict laws. But the system has not been completely stopped in India even though a law was enacted in this regard in 1976, he regretted. </p><p><strong>‘It’s crime now’</strong></p><p>“A labourer works for low wages in the hands of a person who provides him a loan to get rid of his debt. The poor used to suffer in such an unfair system. </p><p>“They were given less food and made to work more. His wife and children had to work to pay off the loan. </p><p>“Now, keeping labourers in bondage is a crime and such people can be punished with up to three years in jail”, he said.</p><p>Pointing out that a committee has been formed under the chairmanship of the deputy commissioner to keep vigil on the bonded labour menace, he said that all the departments should work with proper co-ordination and responsibility to eradicate it. Action should be taken against the officials who do not work properly in this regard, he added.</p><p><strong>‘Create awareness’</strong></p><p>Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Bhanwar Singh Meena said that children working in dhabas and other places are called child labourers. </p><p>“We can find the system of bondage labour in these workplaces. Therefore, officials should identify such people and create public awareness in this regard. The committees meant for this have to conduct regular meetings to provide victims with all facilities after they are freed from bondage”, he advised. </p><p>District Labour Officer Sharanappa R H, Regional Deputy Labour Commissioner Venkatesh Shindihatti, Women and Child Development Department Deputy Director Rajkumar Rathod, Santosh Kulkarni and Gurubai Patil were present.</p>