New Delhi: Over 40 per cent of around 2,800 bonded labour cases which reached the National Human Rights Commission in the past 18 years are yet to be solved with the rights body on Friday blaming the nexus of police, bureaucracy and employers for delayed resolution of the cases.
NHRC member Justice BC Patel said the mindset of bureaucrats should change otherwise there would be no change in the situation.
"Police, Sub Divisional Magistrate, Collectors and employers have joined hands. Otherwise, how is this (continued bonded labour) actively going on," Patel told reporters here. He said whenever the Commission takes steps to curb the practice, they do not get active support from the officials.
"They find one reason or another reason to delay things.
When we seek the report, when we summon them, there are various excuses," he said.
According to NHRC statistics, a total of 2,792 cases of bonded labour have been reported to the Commission since 1993 when it came into being. However, 751 cases are yet to be closed as the Commission could do so in 1,645 cases only.
The NHRC, however, does have the number of labourers rescued or rehabilitated in the 1,645 cases. "The figure of 2,792 is only the number of cases," Patel said. Uttar Pradesh tops the list of bonded labour cases with 1,300 followed by Punjab 465, Haryana 425 and Rajasthan 105. There were 45 cases from the national capital during the past 18 years.
There are ten states or union territories from where no complaints were received in the past 18 years.
PTI