Tamil Nadu: Coalition to fight against bonded labour

Chennai: ‘Coalition to End Human Trafficking’ a non-profit organisation in association with the department of sowial Work, Stella Maris College, commemorated World Day Against Human Trafficking by launching ‘Shout for Freedom’, an alliance to draw attention towards bonded labourers and human trafficking in the state.

The Global Slavery Index published by The International Labour Organisation says that 21 million people are victims of human trafficking globally of which 8.1 million are from India. To corroborate the same, the latest National Crime Records Bureau Data said that over 23,117 people were rescued from human traffickers or from bonded labour, of whom 14,183 were under the age of 18. 

This coalition was therefore formed to bring together like-minded individuals and organisations to assist in the demolition of bonded labour in the state of Tamil Nadu. 

“The vision is to advocate and protect the vulnerable from bonded labour by creating a functioning public justice system,” said M. Devaneyan, convener of the coalition.

The coalition also seeks to identify bonded labour and provide sustainable rehabilitation for survivors along with advocating policy reforms, especially the Bonded Labour System (abolition) Act 1976.