BHUBANESWAR: Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) on Monday directed the Government to report on the steps taken to implement the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act and the Centrally Sponsored Plan Scheme for Rehabilitation of Bonded Labour in the State.
The bench of acting Chairperson Justice BK Mishra and member BK Patnaik has instructed Secretary, Labour and Employees' State Insurance Department, to make a detailed presentation on September 10 on rehabilitation of freed bonded labourers and benefits extended to them. It has also awarded an interim compensation of `50,000 to rescued child labourer Sushant Kumbhar (12) of Kadalimunda village under Patnagarh block of Balangir district. Sushant had to undergo amputation of his left hand after brutal torture by the owner of a brick kiln in Gulbarga district of Karnataka in January. Rights activists Biswapriya Kanungo and Bijay Kumar Panda had filed a petition before the OHRC seeking compensation for Sushant and rehabilitation of his family. They also sought directions to be issued to the Government for taking sincere steps to implement the Bonded Labour Rehabilitation scheme in the State.