Rescuing Child Bonded Labour: Initiative by PARDA

Sarabjit Kaur on November 28th, 2016

A news paper reported on the torture committed on some brick kiln workers he raided the brick kiln and found 19 families from Odisha were found bondage in brick kiln of Sri Yedupati Raja at Vakarivarikandriga village. The Executive magistrate issued all of them release order under The Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act 1776 on 16-4-2012.Among the released bonded labours Radhesyam Kaibarta, age 12 was one of them. He is the elder son among another 2 brother and a sister. He was studying in 5^th in his village school and dropped out when his father has opted to go to Andhra Pradesh to work in a brick kiln. His father approached the labour agent called Bisam Nayak on 15^th May 2012 and took an advance of Rs. 29000 and pledged 4 members of his family as labourer to work in the brick kiln for 7 months.

However Radhesyam worked there and generated income for the brick kiln owner a worth of more than Rs. 29,000 along with his family members. But he was forced to stay there with his family since three more months were left for bricks making season. He could not come out from there as the owner did not pay them their wages as well as always they were guarded by the supervisors. He and his family were forced to work more than the normal hours. He hardly got four hours to rest in a day. The owner paid his family only Rs.150 a week for their food. Meanwhile a 3 years child died in a suspicious way which was highlighted in the local news. Receiving this news the Tahasildar went to the brick kiln and enquired about the situation where he found 19 families were in bondage.Later Labour Department, Govt. of Andhra had summoned the child to receive a draft of Rs.25000 as per their norms on child labour. He was accompanied by a staff of Aide –et-action to the labour Department where he received a draft of Rs. 25000. The amount was fixed deposited in his name in Andhra Pradesh.

The child was reading at residential TRW School, Sialati (Nuapada) and is in 7^th standard. With the interaction with the teachers it is known that the child is doing well. He was also guided by the volunteer of PARDA, Nuapada (Odisha).After two years, Radheshyam kaibartha cannot regular and continue his study, due to Regular crop local govt scheme and work failure, poor condition of their family and no any regular work for livelihood of his family. He taken decision to stop study from school and applied training for masonry in PARDA shramik sahayata and paramarsha Kendra. He took training from 1/6/2015 to 30/6/2015 under skill up gradation training on masonry at PARDA, Nuapada. He was placed construction of Indira Awash house in rural area under DRDA after Completion of the training on masonry. He is one of earning member of his family. Now he has been working at individual house hold latrine and IAY, Mo kudia and other private construction work in local areas. The monthly income of Radheshyam is Rs. 9000/ and well manage his family.