Bonded labourers hold dharna against Admn

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, February 22

Labourers and bonded labourers, who were working at a potato farm, held a dharna in front of the DC’s residence here today, alleging that the district administration had failed to act against those responsible for forcing them to pursue bonded labour.

The workers at a potato farm in Ball Kohna, Khiwa, held the dharna, saying the civil and police administration had failed to pursue their duties.

Following a meeting with the ADC on the issue, the workers held a dharna in front of the DC’s house.

Leaders of labourers said as many as 57 labourers from Bihar and Nepal – after having been given a marginal advance – were being made to work at the potato farms at Ball Kohna and Khiwa without any wages for the past there years.

They said the labourers were only being given some food and a little money for all the work they have been doing. They said when labourers demanded their wages, the owner of the farm along with some supervisors, denied them their dues and their belongings were also misplaced by the farm administrators along with their associates.

They said despite complaints to the administration regarding bonded and child labour, no action had been initiated.

They said while the administration woke up and got labourers rescued from the farm after about a week of a complaint, the administration was dilly-dallying on acting strict against those responsible and the naib tehsildar and labour inspector were passing the buck on action against them.

They said while on the one hand their belongings were misplaced, on the other, despite bringing them to the city in the night, no arrangements for their food and stay had been made anywhere.

They said the hapless labourers had been provided a roof by the Desh Bhagat Yadgaar Hall authorities at the moment. They said the administration had failed to lodge an FIR in a case, which was a clear case of bonded labour and atrocities against Dalits. They said no action had been taken against anyone for misplacing their belongings. They termed the approach taken by the Nakodar SDM on the issue as “non serious”.

They said their struggle would be intensified if the administration did not take quick action on the issue.