Dear Editor,
Panchayats, Gram Sabhas, NGOs and other local bodies must come forward to eradicate bonded and child labour and coordinate with the authorities. In a judgement on 15th October, 2012, the Supreme Court Bench had asked the government to identify bonded labourers and rehabilitate them. It observed that all the state governments should periodically conduct a survey once in three years, put data on website and fix responsibility on the district-level vigilance committees. The committee may give special attention on brick-kilns, stone quarries, agriculture, construction industry and deal where children are deputed as domestic helpers. The rescued children should be sent to and provided rehabilitation packages.
Gurinderjit S Bhatia,
via-e-mail