Center should prepare a proposal to solve the problem of bonded labor by meeting with the states: Supreme Court

New Delhi, 21 November (HS). The Supreme Court has directed the Central Government to hold a meeting with all the states and union territories and prepare a proposal to solve the problem of interstate trafficking of bonded labourers, especially children. Calling it a serious problem, a bench headed by Justice BR Gavai said that out of 5264 bonded laborers released in Uttar Pradesh, only 1101 got immediate financial assistance.

The Supreme Court said that the Central Government should prepare an integrated process by holding a meeting with all the states. National Human Rights Commission should also be included in this process. The court said that like the portal for missing children, there should be a portal for tracking bonded laborers also.

During the hearing, one of the petitioners claimed that he was rescued from a brick kiln in Shahjahanpur, UP on 28 February 2019. He was brought to Shahjahanpur by a contractor from Gaya district of Bihar. According to the petitioner, he and his fellow laborers were not even paid minimum wages. He was not even allowed to go anywhere.