According to Agriculture survey of Pakistan and (International Labour Organization) ILO’s World labour report there are approximately 1.7 million bonded labourers in Pakistan. While bonded labour is present in several different sectors, it is especially bad in the agricultural sector. Pakistan is also amongst the list of countries where there is the worst form of bonded labour. Several export contracts of agricultural products are cancelled due to bonded labour in Pakistan.

The Pakistan Government, realizing the fact that country’s fame and finance were under threat, outlawed bonded labour under the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1992 and the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Rules, 1995.

However, despite irrefutable evidence of debt bondage among hundreds of thousands of adults and children in Pakistan, authorities at national and provincial levels continue to ignore the problem. In Sindh Province, District Magistrates and law enforcement agencies in Umerkot, Sanghar, and Mirpurkhas refuse to take action, according to the law. In addition, the people of Pakistan are also not very aware of this scourge. They have not accepted (yet) the issue of bonded labour as a curse.

In order to highlight this issue Green Rural Development Organization had planned a 12 day (1st March to 12th March 2005) paddling long march form Jhudo to Hyderabad Press club. The aim of this long march was to increase awareness amongst the masses on the issue of bonded labour, and to make state institutions realize their duties regarding this issue. There were also several demands put forth to the government as a part of this event.

1. Release of all peasants in bonded labour including Manoo Bheel family
2. Instead of leasing to multinational companies, distribution of Government land amongst the peasants,
3. Assurance of 100% vaccination of polio & other killer diseases among the bonded labour family children.
4. Opening of government schools in bonded labour affected areas.
5. Issuance of Rs.5000 as unemployment allowance.

Green Rural Development Organization
A-4, Hyderabad Town, Phase-II, Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan
E-mail: grdovsk@yahoo.com
Phone: 0092-222-656748

Report By: Jatoi Wali Muhammad Danish

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