Fwd: Freed Bonded Labourers thank Swami Agnivesh

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>"Ashwini Kumar"

>Freed Bonded Labourers thank Swami Agnivesh >Wed, 07 Aug 2002

23:19:02 -0400 > >. Freed Bonded Laborers Thank Swami Agnivesh >Source:

http://server2042.virtualave.net/swamiagnivesh/gwalior.html >GWALIOR, INDIA,

July 10, 2002: The initiative of Swami Agnivesh >freed 89 >bonded labors and

their families of almost ten years. The >contractors >subjected them to

exploitation, molestation, rape and all sorts of >inhuman >treatment. "We had a

sound sleep last night and the bright sun this >morning >is making us realize

the end of the slavery era," said laborers >Batan Lal >and Siddha after

escaping to reach Swami Agnivesh's Delhi office to >narrate >their despicable

condition. Freed and gathered at Morar Hospital the >laborers undergo medical

checkup. It has been a sort of feast day >for them >with elaborate arrangements

by the administration. There was >jubilation >among the liberated laborers. The

laborers touched Swami Agnivesh's >feet as >mark of respect. They said no one

else could have dared to penetrate >the >invincible fortress of Devi Singh. The

contractor hired laborers >with >assurance of paying US$2.05 per person per day.

Instead, he paid >them ration >coupons worth $1.23 and never made payment in

cash. In case of an >accident >or minor injury, a hefty sum of money was

deducted from their wages >in the >name of treatment, said a laborer. Urging

the administration to >eliminate >the evil from the society, Swami Agnivesh

reported about 4,000 to >5,000 >bonded laborers in Gwalior and Shivpuri region

with similar >exploitation. > > Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger:

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