62 bonded labourers rescued from Gaya brick kiln

Gaya: A joint team of the district and police administration rescued at least 62 persons, including men, women and children, who had been working for a long time as bonded labourers.

The rescue was carried out following raids at a brick kiln owned by Ramashish Yadav, operating at eastern Bathan village under Fatehpur block of the district. The team arrested Devendra Yadav, the munshi of the kiln. An FIR has been lodged at Gurpa police station in connection with the case against the kiln owner.

DM Shashank Shubhankar said, “A team headed by assistant collector Suraj Kumar and comprising assistant labour commissioner, Fatehpur block development officer and police officials from police lines, Gaya was constituted following inputs about the practice of bonded labour at the brick kiln. The team conducted raid and rescued men, women and the children working since long as bonded labour. After the rescue, they were sent to their respective home.”

“There was input that the practice of bonded labour was going on at the kiln for the last around 30 years,” the district magistrate added.

Assistant collector Suraj Kumar said, “All steps under rehabilitation plans of bonded labours including assistance from the labour department, admission of children in schools and providing other assistance will be taken by the district administration as per provision. Action against the kiln owner for imposing penalty has also to be taken.”

A social worker Manoj Kumar, who has been working on the issue of child trafficking for around 20 years, said, “At most of the brick kilns in Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal, people belonging to Mushahar and the Manjhi community work as labourers. Their entire family including women and the children are involved as labourers. The kiln owners payment the wages in installments so that the labourers keep working for years and this entire family gets involved.”

He added, “Proper implementation of the rehabilitation plans is needed to stop people falling in such trap. In absence of proper implementation, not even in neighbouring states but many people from Gaya district can be found working at eateries and other business establishments at Manali, Leh and other tourist places.”