Ensure rights to labour class

It is a fact that the labourers have never got the rights they deserve and they are entitled to as the people and the government itself didn’t bother to ensure the implementation of the rights guaranteed to the labour class in Jammu and Kashmir. However, the recently published report by National Campaign Committee for Eradication of Bonded Labour (NCCEBL) has made some startling revelations, claiming that it has rescued women among 5000 “bonded labourers” working across Jammu and Kashmir’s brick kilns in the last 12 years. The labourers are already facing tough times due to the non-implementation of the rights guaranteed to them and such heinous crimes are adding to their misery. One fails to understand why the poor are being pushed to the wall. It seems that the rich have been let loose to create fear among the downtrodden section of the society and make their lives hell. The labour department here seems to have taken a deep slumber as the issues confronting the society with regard to the labourers are increasing at a rapid pace. In every locality, especially in Srinagar, the little labourers could be seen working as mechanics, salesmen etc, but it seems no action is being taken against the persons involved in such practices, rather the government issued guidelines are not being implemented on the ground, leaving the labour class to lurch at large. There is a dire need to come up with stringent measures in this regard so that the poor, who work as labourers could heave a sigh of relief. The labourers are humans and deserve the respect, dignity and the rights as well.