Slavery is still alive in state: 2574 bonded labourers demand relief!
Bengaluru, July 13: Even after more than 70 years of independence, the inhuman practice- bonded labour or slavery is still alive in the state. In spite of several acts brought to eradicate such social evil from the society, they have their tentacles.
The practice of working as bonded labourers in the fields of the rich is still alive in some parts of the state. Total 2574 such bonded labourers including 13 from Channapatna, representing by Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, were waiting to get emancipation from slavery across the state.
Already, thousands of bonded labourers have written to the deputy commissioners and the assistant commissioners of their respective districts to relieve them from such work and to provide rehabilitation. The Jeeta Vimukta Karnataka, an organization fighting against the practice, has published a report and alleged that the practice is still alive in each district. But till date, no rehabilitation and pension scheme was applied to them, it added.
It also said that from 2010-15, there were more than 15000 bonded labourers and they were not emancipated. Their dream of getting relief from the practice was not yet fulfilled for the last many years. They believed that they could live like others if the government emancipated them and provided rehabilitation. But because of the negligence of the authorities concerned, they failed to get the relief.
Bonded labourers
From 2013 to June 2018, thousands of bonded labourers have applied for their emancipation and demanding rehabilitation across the state. The report said that 43 bonded labourers from Manvi and seven in Devadurga of Raichur district, 42 in Alandur of Chamarajnagar, two in Kadur of Chikmagalur, 17 in Kundgol of Dharwad, 840 in Sidlaghatta of Chikkaballapur, 414 in Gauribidanur, 444 in Bagepalli, 131 in Gudibande, 47 in Gundlupet in Charajnagar, 38 in Magadi of Ramanagara, 20 in Shahapur, 23 in Chittapur in Kalburgi, 150 in Ramdurga in Belagavi have applied for their emancipation. Total 14,217 persons had applied for their emancipation between 2012 and 2016, 1099 in 2017 and in the current year, 356 have applied. As per the law, only deputy commissioners or assistant commissioners should conduct the enquiry or hearing of bonded labourers as these officers are given judicial magistrate power. There is no need to file FIR and their interrogation should not be conducted in normal courts, according to the report.
The owners to be held guilty could be punished for 3 years jail and Rs 2000 penalty. Even then, the bonded labour system is alive in the state. In special cases, the penalty could be increased up to Rs 2 lakh. Physically disabled, sexually exploited, women and transgenders could be given up to Rs 3 lakh compensation. However, men will get Rs 1 lakh compensation. But there is an allegation that the assistant commissioners were not taking it seriously and providing the rehabilitations.
Officials’ apathy?
Though the concerned district administrations were given the written answers and certified them as bonded labourers as per the government’s statement in 2012, the deputy commissioners of respective districts have not taken any steps to rehabilitate them, the Jeeta Vimukta Karnataka said.
New law
The central government brought amendment to the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act 1976 and restructured the rehabilitation scheme of bonded labourers. The compensation was increased from Rs 20,000 to Rs 50000.
‘In some districts, the assistant commissioners were not giving emancipation letters while hearing the bonded labourers. Instead, they ask the police department to serve notices to the owners to face the hearing in courts. But the owners who take notices would force the bonded labourers to take back their statements’.
- Kiran Kamala Prasad, Convener, Jeeta Vimukta Karnataka
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Sanjay Raut demands re-election, alleges irregularities in EVMs during Maharashtra polls
Mumbai, Nov 25: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Monday demanded a re-election in Maharashtra using ballot papers, claiming there were irregularities with the electronic voting machines (EVMs).
Talking to reporters, Raut alleged several complaints about EVMs malfunctioning and questioned the integrity of the recently held elections.
The BJP-led Mahayuti won 230 out of 288 seats in the assembly elections, while the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi managed 46 seats, with Shiv Sena (UBT) winning just 20 out of 95 seats it contested.
"We have received nearly 450 complaints regarding EVMs. Despite raising objections repeatedly, no action has been taken on these issues. How can we say these elections were conducted fairly? Hence, I demand that the results be set aside and elections be held again using ballot papers," Raut said.
Citing some instances, he said a candidate in Nashik reportedly received only four votes despite having 65 votes from his family, while in Dombivli, discrepancies were found in EVM tallies, and election officials refused to acknowledge the objections.
The Sena (UBT) leader also questioned the credibility of the landslide victories of some candidates, saying, "What revolutionary work have they done to receive more than 1.5 lakh votes? Even leaders who recently switched parties have become MLAs. This raises suspicions. For the first time, a senior leader like Sharad Pawar has expressed doubts about EVMs, which cannot be ignored."
Asked about the MVA's poor performance in the elections, Raut rejected the idea of blaming a single individual.
"We fought as a united MVA. Even a leader like Sharad Pawar, who commands immense respect in Maharashtra, faced defeat. This shows that we need to analyse the reasons behind the failure. One of the reasons is EVM irregularities and the misuse of the system, unconstitutional practices, and even judicial decisions left unresolved by Justice Chandrachud," he said.
Raut stressed that though internal differences might have existed within the MVA, the failure was collective.
He also accused the Mahayuti of conducting the elections in an unfair manner.
"I cannot call the elections fair given the numerous reports of discrepancies in EVMs, mismatched numbers, and vote irregularities across the state," Raut said.
