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SC to hear bonded labourers’ plea for grant of land
New Delhi, May 27 (IANS) The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a plea filed by 38 families living in bonded labour in Madhubani district of Bihar, seeking direction for grant of ownership and possession of agricultural land for their rehabilitation.
The 101 victims of the “Kamiya” bonded labour system — who have been exploited in multi-generational agricultural labour for several years — approached the court, seeking direction to the Madhubani District Magistrate to grant ownership and possession of land to them, in compliance with the Patna NHRC order of September 12, 2017.
Advocate Anitha Shenoy, filing the plea on behalf of the labourers last week, also sought issuance of guidelines for the proper implementation of the Central Sector Scheme for Rehabilitation of Bonded Labourer-2016.
She contended the scheme makes a provision for grant of agriculture land and housing for the rehabilitation of released bonded labourers, and the authorities are duty bound to implement the scheme.
A bench of Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice Navin Sinha posted the case in July.
The plea said a complaint was made before the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in November 2014 by a social welfare organisation on behalf of the petitioners, alleging that over 38 families (101 persons) were being exploited for agricultural labour under an illegal bonded labour system by their respective employers.
A team set up by the NRHC for spot inquiry, which submitted its report on January 28, 2015, outlined the wretched condition of the families.
The NHRC on January 30 passed an order directing the District Magistrate of Madhubani to issue lease certificate to all the labourers, to ensure they were paid their back wages and given due compensation, and to extend towards them all the benefits of the Social Welfare Schemes to which they were entitled.
The District Magistrate in February 2015 submitted a report before the NHRC, stating that proceedings had been initiated and action taken against the employers.
In March, the official submitted that land had been allotted to all the 38 families for construction of their houses and possession handed over, and necessary entries in the revenue records of their ownership had been made.
However, on July 21, 2017, in a public hearing before NHRC, Patna, the labourers made submissions that they had still not been granted possession of land.
On September 12, last year the NHRC ordered the District Magistrate to grant land to the 101 rescued labourers within eight weeks.
The labourers’ plea in the top court said the period of eight weeks has long since expired on November 8, 2017, and the District Magistrate has still failed to allot and grant possession of land, despite the petitioners having made repeated representations.
The petition said the district administration and the state of Bihar have failed in their duty to protect the fundamental rights of the petitioners by allowing them to be exploited as bonded labourers over decades.
Under the “Kamiya system”, there is an economic compulsion on labourers to continue working in exploitative conditions for their employers due to advances received by them or their forefathers.
These labourers have their freedom of movement restricted, are often paid no wages apart from meagre rations, are made to work for oppressively long hours and are from very backward communities, said the plea.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.
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