Laadu and his wife Sugra were unaware of the dangers of getting trapped in bonded labour when they decided to explore work opportunities outside their small village in Ajmer, Rajasthan. When they were approached by an acquaintance with an opportunity to work at a brick kiln in Bhilwara, they thought it was an offer too good to refuse. They were promised an advance of Rs. 20,000 and an amount of between Rs. 800 – to Rs. 1000 as daily wages. They readily agreed to take up the offer, but as Laadu honestly admits, the attractiveness of the offer just raised their hope of making life better for themselves. It was only later that they found out that were recruited on false claims.
Laadu and Sugra loved the agricultural work they started doing together after they were married in 2003. They have 3 bright and energetic boys – Ramdev (11 years), Irfan (7 years) and Dilkush (5 years). They grew and harvested various crops on the 7 bighas (2.8 acres) of land they own, some of which have been ancestrally inherited. They were comfortably able to make ends meet. Yet, they were always on the lookout for better alternatives for their family. They had previously left their village when work opportunities came their way, but they were what they call “favourable experiences”. So when an opportunity to work at Hanuman brick kiln came their way, they did not hesitate to leave their children with Sugra’s parents and make that journey to Bhilwara with great expectations. Becoming bonded labourers was not one of them.
On reaching the kiln, they learned their promised advance would be part of what they were going to be paid as their daily income. This was only the beginning of what would look like a series of unfair events. They were allowed to take groceries only from the shop assigned by the owner of the brick kiln. After 2 weeks of work, they received their first payment of Rs. 1000, which was what was promised to them as daily wages. This compelled them to often buy produce on credit, further increasing their debts. Far from what they were assured, Laadu and Sugra were not able to make ends meet, let alone add to their savings as they hoped to
“It was a very different experience for us. We worked from 4:30 am to 8:00 pm, with only 2 hours of break in between, during which we had to load the tractors. We were not paid. The
living conditions were terrible. The contractors and supervisors were full of verbal abuse. And no matter what, we were not allowed to leave this kiln,” explains Laadu. . They were grateful to have lived in these inequitable circumstances only for a brief time of 2 ½ months. In fact, the couple was secretly sketching an escape plan from the kiln before they got rescued.
Jai Bhim Vikas Sikshan Sansthan (JBVSS) supported the District Administration in the rescue of about 125 people from Hanuman Brick Kiln in May 2016. After the rescue, Laadu and Sugra, with others from the district of Ajmer, were escorted back to their villages. “It is such a relief to be free from a life of unrelenting hardship. I am so happy that we were rescued and guided by all the staff of JBVSS. Now that we are back, there is no tension,” Laadu says, a happy smile lighting his face.
Laadu and his family are now in the 2-year long rehabilitation programme with JBVSS. Frequent meetings and discussions have helped them to understand the issue of bonded labour and the fact that there are so many people in India still trapped in its vices. With the help of government officials and the JBVSS staff, Laadu and Sugra have been able to get various government entitlements like voter ID cards, Aadhar cards and bank accounts.
They have been able to buy 3 goats and a cow with the government rehabilitation money they received. Sugra enjoys taking care of the land they have, on which they are now growing cotton, wheat, maize, peanuts and other vegetable crops. Laadu enjoys having the freedom to work as a daily wage labourer at a construction site. They have also invested in a two-wheeler for the family. “It is amazing how much time it saves, and how easy travelling is now,” says Laadu. “I am so happy with what we make together as a family now. Nothing will make me leave home again. My land provides for what I need for myself and my family,” says Laadu, smiling.
It is very clear that he has fond plans for his three sons, who enjoy going to school and learning new things. “I was not very good in English, so my education came to an end in the 8th standard. But I want my children to finish their education…and finish it in English! I want to ensure my boys can grow up with every opportunity I did not have. Being able to send my children to an English medium school is my dream come true,” adds Laadu proudly.