Vigilance committee constituted at district level for abolition of bonded labour

Mahasamund. As per the instructions of the state government, a district level vigilance committee has been formed to effectively implement the prevention, monitoring and rehabilitation works of bonded labour under the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976 under Revenue Mahasamund. Additional Collector Ravi Kumar Sahu, directed by District Magistrate and Collector Vinay Kumar Langeh, will be the chairman of the committee. As committee members, members belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes residing in the district, social workers, representatives of government departments related to rural development, Chief Executive Officer District Panchayat, Deputy Director Agriculture, Assistant Commissioner Tribal Development, and Manager District Lead Bank are included and the Labor Officer will be the member secretary.

The vigilance committee will pay special attention during the survey in view of the prevalence in the construction and industrial sector and action will be taken in case of violation of the provisions of the Act. Arrangements will be made for identification, liberation and rehabilitation of bonded labour in the district. Inspection campaigns will be conducted in the identified areas, arrangements for effective implementation of rehabilitation plans, investigation of complaints of exploitation of workers, forced labor, child labor etc. and information about labor laws will be given by organizing awareness programs among the general public. The district administration has clarified that if any person or organization is forcing workers to work, or keeping them bonded in exchange for a loan, then strict legal action will be taken against them. Along with this, bonded laborers will be freed and linked to government rehabilitation schemes.