27 Chhattisgarh labourers stranded in Jammu and Kashmir released after CM’s intervention, 90 more to return soon

RAIPUR: Ninety migrant and ‘bonded labourers’ including women and children from Chhattisgarh are still stranded in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir and they have been calling out for help for their release, while Chhattisgarh government’s intervention on Tuesday, helped release a separate group of 27 other workers and they were on their way back home.
Chhattisgarh government is sending a committee of officers for safe rescue of workers and their families.
The stranded labourers include pregnant and lactating mothers, who are refused medical facilities by the contractors, an NGO in New Delhi working for bonded labourers, alleged.
There were loads of videos being shared on social media of the labourers demanding help for their release and they alleged contractors were molesting women as well as forcing children also to work on the site. Most of the labourers are reported to be from Janjgir Champa and newly carved out Sakti district of Chhattisgarh.
Speaking to TOI, Janjgir Champa collector Taran Prakash Sinha said that based on the complaints received, a team of three officials including a labour inspector has been constituted and will be sent to Jammu. They will ensure proper payment and release of the labourers stuck there, though it appears that there’s some payment issue. Arrangements for their return will also be taken care of, Sinha said.
Earlier, a situation of confusion prevailed as there were several groups of labourers from Chhattisgarh working in Budgam district. A case for release of another group of 64 labourers was earlier raised by Congress MLA Keshav Chandra.
Chief minister Bhupesh Baghel tweeted on Tuesday stating that after intervention by the state officials, about 64 labourers were identified who were not found to be “bonded”. He said that 27 of the 64, were willing to return and arrangements have been made for their travel.
Meanwhile, Nirmal Gorana, the convenor of the NGO national campaign committee for eradication of bonded labour pointed out that there is a separate group of 90 other labourers working at a brick kiln in the same region and they are in a conflicting situation with the contractor.
He urged that the group of 90 workers is at another location that needs attention. Gorana had also written to CM Baghel as well as district administration and the government of Budgam, J&K.
“The teams on the spot recording statements of the labourers are manipulated and forced. The administration there refuses to identify them as bonded,” Gorana alleged.
When contacted Chhattisgarh labour department commissioner Amrit Xalxo told TOI, “It’s true that there is a separate group of 90 labourers in the Madarpura region of Budgam in Jammu and it’s being verified if they are ‘bonded’. We have initiated an investigation in the matter and I am sending a team comprising officials of labour department to Jammu, to address the issue and ensure safe release of the labourers."