Mithilesh Rajbanshi with his wife, mother and sister-in-law at their home in Bargaon village, Gaya, Bihar. Three of them worked as bonded labour for years in farms of the local landlord and brick kilns.
Unfulfilled Promises And Ongoing Struggles In The Life Of Bonded Labourers
Despite government schemes for rehabilitation, bonded labourers continue to wait for promised support while managing daily life in their modest home. As the nation is celebrating its 77th anniversary of independence, bonded labourers remain a pervasive issue, particularly in regions like Bihar, where individuals and families are trapped in cycles of exploitation and poverty. Forced to work under harsh conditions with little to no pay, many find themselves bound by debts or deceit, their freedom and dignity compromised. Despite legal frameworks and government schemes aimed at eradicating this practice, many victims continue to face unfulfilled promises and ongoing struggles. However, stories of resilience and transformation shine through, as some manage to break free and rebuild their lives, highlighting both the severity of the issue and the enduring hope for change and justice. These photos remind us that even after so many years of independence, the problem of bonded labourers is still huge and should not be avoided.
Photo: Suresh K Pandey/Outlook
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Photo: Suresh K Pandey/Outlook
Mithilesh’s wife Pratima Devi, a rescued bonded labour from Lucknow brick kiln standing at her house in Bargaon village at Gaya district.
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Photo: Suresh K Pandey/Outlook
Brick Kiln workers loading bricks in a truck near Patna.
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Photo: Suresh K Pandey/Outlook
Deepak, 14, a resident of Bishanpur Kamdev village at Sitamarhi district in Bihar was taken away by a trafficker to Chennai to work in a plastic factory. He worked as a bonded labour for eight months.
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Photo: Suresh K Pandey/Outlook
Deepak’s mother cooking food at their mud house. Though the Central government scheme mandates a house as rehabilitation measure, they haven’t got it yet.
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Photo: Suresh K Pandey/Outlook
Dulari Devi in her 70s recalls those days of bondage when she, her husband, father in law- all used to work at the land of local Zamindar at Bargaon in Gaya district, Bihar.
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Photo: Suresh K Pandey/Outlook
Gautam a rescued child who was earlier working as bonded labour in bag factory at Chennai, is now with his family at Rupauli village, Sitamarhi, Bihar.
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Photo: Suresh K Pandey/Outlook
Govind Paswan, a former bonded labourer from Sitamarhi district of Bihar showing his release certificate. After rehabilitation, Govind has now become ward member of his panchayat.
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Photo: Suresh K Pandey/Outlook
Children rescued from a bag factory in Chennai have been re-admitted to their school in Sitamarhi, Bihar
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Photo: Suresh K Pandey/Outlook
Govind Paswan, a former bonded labourer from Sitamarhi district of Bihar. After rehabilitation, Govind has now become ward member of his panchayat.
