Debt, abuse and restricted movement: 14 rescued from farms in suspected bonded labour cases in Rajasthan

Jaipur: Fourteen people, including eight minors, were rescued in three suspected bonded labour cases in Nagaur, Bikaner and Ajmer within one week in Sept this year. Families alleged that they were trapped in debt and not allowed to leave farms. They also reported verbal abuse, physical assault and children being forced to work.The families had migrated from their hometowns in search of work. They were rescued following complaints filed by their relatives.This year India marks 50 years of the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976, with govt aiming to identify and release all bonded labourers by 2030.In Nagaur, six family members, including four children, were rescued from a farm in Chappri village, Merta, on Sept 26. They belonged to Jayal in Nagaur and Bhopalgarh in Jodhpur.Ramniwas Nayak said his family had taken an advance of Rs 1.5 lakh, but outstanding debt allegedly rose to Rs 2.45 lakh over 1.5 years despite five family members working on the farm.“Pabandi puri thi, kahi aane jaane nahi deta,” he said, alleging that the owner restricted their movement, threatened them with a gun and prevented them from attending even family funerals. He also alleged that the owner assaulted him on Sept 24. This led to a complaint by Ramniwas’s brother on Sept 25.SDM Sunil Kumar said an investigation was underway and further action would follow if a bonded labour case was established.In Bikaner, six members of a family from Anupgarh, Sri Ganganagar, were rescued from a farm in Akhoosar on Sept 29. The family included three minors.Hariram said his family worked on a farm for nearly five years, but he could never repay the debt as the employer kept adding other expenses to the loan. “My employer would sell crops I grew and never gave me an account of the proceeds. Five of us worked on the farm, yet he would still say that our earnings are deducted from loan,” Hari Ram said.He alleged that his children were also made to work and that the family was denied freedom to leave.“I was kept in severe bondage and suffered immensely,” he said. “Mere bacche anpadh hi reh gaye” (My children remained illiterate), he added, alleging that restrictions on movement prevented them from obtaining identity documents for children and enrolling them in school. The complaint about the family’s situation was filed by Hariram’s brother-in-law on Sept 28.However, Bikaner SDM Sanwarmal Regar said, “The complaint appeared to be motivated. Sharecropping is practiced in this area, and our investigation found no evidence of bonded labour. The person who filed the complaint does not reside in the area. We rescued the family and directed the farm owner to send them home. The family had come to work under a sharecropping arrangement, and no case of bonded labour was established in our inquiry.”In Ajmer, a father and his 15-year-old son were rescued on Oct 1. Shivraj Bheel had allegedly borrowed Rs 45,000 for medical expenses in 2023, after which his son was sent to work as a cow keeper. Shivraj later joined him when the debt amount allegedly rose to Rs 75,000 with interests. He said the owner refused to let him return home when his father suffered a heart attack in Sept 2026, prompting him to file a complaint against the owner on Sept 30. Ajmer SDM Kalpit Shivran said a decision in the case was pending.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Jaipur | Silver Rate in Jaipur | Bank Holidays in Jaipur | Public Holidays in Jaipur | Jaipur AQI | Weather in Jaipur | Petrol Price in Jaipur | Diesel Price in Jaipur | CNG Price in Jaipur | LPG Price in JaipurStay updated with the latest Jaipur news. Download the TOI App.