The noble thoughts behind availability of a medium to help raise the voices of bonded labourers in a public forum and gather steam against it seems to have fallen short of its actual goals. Majboor Kisko Bola (Who are you calling helpless!), a programme initiated by the BBC Media Action, could not encourage the destitutes to come and speak up.
Ground reality suggests that notwithstanding the menace of bonded labour, human trafficking, low wage payment and inter-State migration is present and continuing at its full pace in areas such as latehar and Khunti the voices to expose such incidents and the name dabang (powerful) in public are very meager.
“It is largely because the poor labourers know that they have to live here and work. They admit about atrocities taking place at brick kilns, farms or even some Government works in private but none of them come forward and speak up on the radio. Had it happened, the cases would have been followed up and presented an example before other effected,” said Rajesh Kumar, a local journalist who is coordinating with the BBC Media Action progarmme, which aims to reduce the risk of bondage amongst the vulnerable population by providing essential information through popular radio programming and community outreach activities.
After being launched on June 15, 2013 the progarmme is to run at Khunti, latehar, West Singhbhum and Palamau districts of Jharkhand. Total 40 villages from the State have been selected where radio based programmes are to be aired.
“In the radio programme, information is provided on bonded labour problems, bonded labour abolition act, safe migration, trafficking, how to prevent getting into bondage, methods of rescue, collective bargaining of rights, minimum wages, important government schemes and helpful government agencies and role of NGOs and the media. At the same time it is also to share real experiences of each other so that such acts can be exposed and taken up to the official level,” said Adrian Shepherd, Project Assistant, BBC Media Action for the country.
Rajesh Kumar cites a case when one Sonamati Oraon of lotu village of latehar was allegedly thrown inside a brick kiln to burn alive when she along with her parents had gone to Rohtas district of Bihar to earn livelihood. Her parents returned to the village without even ashes of their daughter but could not gather enough courage to follow the case. “Goons who act as agents of the businessman consistently pressurised them to take back their complaints. We also face such situations when we go to the villages and try to convince them to come forward. Even our team often has to live with acts of intimidation,” he said.
Bari, Banhardi, Nagar, Sikni, Sarju, Garu, Het-Besra, Mahuadand, Patratu-Sarju and Manika are the villages of latehar where the programme is being run. Incidentally, these areas fall in the zone known infamously as supply hub of labour force trafficked to Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. The practice continues unabated despite the awareness generated about labour laws, minimum wages, experts advice on legal remedies available and even advises from Government officials. This is when provision for guaranteed job under MGNREGA is in place.
“It is very difficult to break feudal system of the society. Those who are lower ranged in caste system dominated by upper castes still feel frightened. Bringing their voice out in a meaningful manner is too difficult an act. But we can say that they are now better aware which should infuse desired audacity,” said a senior official of an NGO partnering the initiative in Jharkhand.