Activists and academics estimate that some 10 million bonded labourers are working in India, indirectly contributing to the profits of global Indian brands and multinationals that operate in the country. Indian law has banned bonded labour since 1976 but the courts do little to punish those who break the law, as it takes about five years to bring a case to court and even then a broker or brick kiln owner often gets away with a $30 (£18) fine. Many in government, meanwhile, deny that bonded labour exists. The Labour Commissioner for Andra Pradesh - the state of which Hyderabad is the capital gave a 100% guarantee that there was no bonded labour on his territory.
"There's no such thing," said Dr A Ashok.
Typically people are liable into bonded labour by a broker who finds someone a job and charges a fee that they will repay by working - but their wages are so low that it takes years, or even a whole lifetime. Meanwhile, violence keeps them in line.
Dialu Nial had been among 12 young men being taken against their will to make bricks on the outskirts of one of India's biggest cities, Hyderabad. During the journey, they got a chance to escape and ran for it - but Nial and a friend were caught. As punishment each man had a hand chopped off. "The pain was terrible. I thought I was going to die," says Nial.
It was in early December that Nilamber, a friend from a nearby village told Nial about a job in brick kiln for which he would supposedly get 10,000 rupees ($165; £98) up front. It was all being organised by one of Nilamber's neighbours, Bimal, who was trying his hand at working as a broker. Nial, Nilamber, Bimal, and 10 others travelled by bus to meet the main contractor.
"I knew he was a rich man. He had a motorcycle and wore a tie," says Nial.
The contractor showed them the money, but took it straight back. They would not in fact get it up front, he said, but some time later. Nial nonetheless believed he would still be paid and agreed to work - although illegal, it meant he had technically taken the bond. The men were taken the next day to the railway station at Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgargh state. Then, instead of being sent on a short journey to a brick kiln as they had been promised, they discovered the train was heading 500 miles (800km) south to Hyderabad, a thriving city and a pillar of India's economic success. But some in the group had already heard stories about forced labour there, and got ready to rebel. When the train stopped at a station, all except Nial and Nilamber escaped. Instead of continuing to Hyderabad the contractor took them back to Raipur.
"His henchmen were waiting for us," recalls Nial.
The contractor demanded that Nial pay him 20,000 rupees (US$330; £196) for his release but his family was unable to raise the money. He and Nilamber were held for five days. During the day they were made to work on the contractor's farm. In the evenings they were beaten.
"They have been bought and traded as property and that is how they see themselves," explains Roseann Rajan, a counsellor with a charity, the International Justice Mission. "They don't know how to show emotions. They can't smile or frown or express grief."
Britain encourages companies to invest in India - it has launched a record £1bn ($1.7bn) credit line for those involved in Indian infrastructure contracts. Under UN guidelines introduced in 2011, multinationals operating in India also bear responsibility for any abuse of workers all the way down their supply chains. Most say they are fully committed to upholding human rights and the UN guidelines. But campaigners say they know of no big company operating in India that guarantees its buildings are constructed from legally-made bricks. Because each brick kiln moulds a unique logo on to its bricks, it would be possible to trace them back to their origins.
Taken from here
"There's no such thing," said Dr A Ashok.
Typically people are liable into bonded labour by a broker who finds someone a job and charges a fee that they will repay by working - but their wages are so low that it takes years, or even a whole lifetime. Meanwhile, violence keeps them in line.
Dialu Nial had been among 12 young men being taken against their will to make bricks on the outskirts of one of India's biggest cities, Hyderabad. During the journey, they got a chance to escape and ran for it - but Nial and a friend were caught. As punishment each man had a hand chopped off. "The pain was terrible. I thought I was going to die," says Nial.
It was in early December that Nilamber, a friend from a nearby village told Nial about a job in brick kiln for which he would supposedly get 10,000 rupees ($165; £98) up front. It was all being organised by one of Nilamber's neighbours, Bimal, who was trying his hand at working as a broker. Nial, Nilamber, Bimal, and 10 others travelled by bus to meet the main contractor.
"I knew he was a rich man. He had a motorcycle and wore a tie," says Nial.
The contractor showed them the money, but took it straight back. They would not in fact get it up front, he said, but some time later. Nial nonetheless believed he would still be paid and agreed to work - although illegal, it meant he had technically taken the bond. The men were taken the next day to the railway station at Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgargh state. Then, instead of being sent on a short journey to a brick kiln as they had been promised, they discovered the train was heading 500 miles (800km) south to Hyderabad, a thriving city and a pillar of India's economic success. But some in the group had already heard stories about forced labour there, and got ready to rebel. When the train stopped at a station, all except Nial and Nilamber escaped. Instead of continuing to Hyderabad the contractor took them back to Raipur.
"His henchmen were waiting for us," recalls Nial.
The contractor demanded that Nial pay him 20,000 rupees (US$330; £196) for his release but his family was unable to raise the money. He and Nilamber were held for five days. During the day they were made to work on the contractor's farm. In the evenings they were beaten.
"They have been bought and traded as property and that is how they see themselves," explains Roseann Rajan, a counsellor with a charity, the International Justice Mission. "They don't know how to show emotions. They can't smile or frown or express grief."
Britain encourages companies to invest in India - it has launched a record £1bn ($1.7bn) credit line for those involved in Indian infrastructure contracts. Under UN guidelines introduced in 2011, multinationals operating in India also bear responsibility for any abuse of workers all the way down their supply chains. Most say they are fully committed to upholding human rights and the UN guidelines. But campaigners say they know of no big company operating in India that guarantees its buildings are constructed from legally-made bricks. Because each brick kiln moulds a unique logo on to its bricks, it would be possible to trace them back to their origins.
Taken from here
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