Written By Oruvingal Sreedharan And R. Muniyappa

Published by Babasaheb Dr.B.R. Ambedkar Adhyayana Kendra, Bangalore-9

Dedicated to the five chained bonded labourers of Hangarahalli
We acknowledge the support given by the following leaders for bringing out this small booklet Nanjunde Gowda (Rajya Raitha Sangha), Hennur Srinivas

“Bowed by the weight of centuries he leans Upon his hoe and gazes on the ground The emptiness of ages on his face, And on his back the burden of the world,”

From : “Man with the Hoe”

During the year 1975, the Government of India declared Emergency and along with that many legislations for the benefit of the poorest of the poor were introduced. One such legislation was the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Ordinance 1975 which was replaced by the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976. This Act was declared to have come into force on 25.10.75. This Act was introduced with a view to prevent the economic and physical exploitation of the weaker sections of the people and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. At the time when the Act came into force there were thousands of bonded labourers in the State of Karnataka. According to the Act the Bonded Labour System were abolished on 25.10 1975 and the bonded labourers stood freed and discharged from any obligation to render any bonded labour from that date. The Act also provided that every obligation of a bonded labourer to repay any bonded debt should be deemed to have been extinguished. The Act further provided that whoever compelled any person to render any bonded labour should be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 3 years and also liable to pay a fine of Rs. 2000/-

The offences under the Act are to be tried summarily by Executive Magistrate. Again it is the duty of every District Magistrate and every officer specified by him under the Act to enquire whether after commencement of the Act any Bonded Labour System or any other form of forced labour is being enforced any where within the local limits of his jurisdiction and if any person is found to be enforcing the Bonded Labour System or any other system of forced labour he should forthwith take action.