By Rani Punnaserril
Jaipur, May 1, 2023: The Commission for Migrants of the Conference of the Catholic Bishops of India on May 1 drew plans to combat the issues of forced labor and human trafficking in its Agra region comprising 10 dioceses.
Some 30 delegates from these dioceses attended a workshop at Gyandeep Bhawan Jaipur, capital of Rajasthan, to celebrate the International Worker’s Day and address human trafficking and bonded labor that are rampant in the agricultural field, brick kilns and factories of the region.
The participants decided to form a resource team equipped with legal knowledge and adequate skills to effectively address human trafficking which has become a serious issue after the Covid-19 pandemic in region.
They stressed the need for educating Christians on the Church’s social teaching to end injustice against workers.
They noted that the pandemic and the subsequent economic slowdown have worsened migrant workers’ situation. The number of unemployed youth in the country is on rise. Some states have failed to create enough jobs forcing workers to flee to metropolitan cities for livelihood leaving behind their families.
Nirmal Gorana, a human right activist, told the participants to use the provisions of Bonded Labour Abolition Act, Immoral Traffic (prevention) Act, 1956, Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 to ensure justice to the victims of human trafficking and bonded labor.
Gorana, who has rescued 400 children and 1,000 bonded laborers from Rajasthan in the past five years, said the Church should take the lead in collaborating and coordinating the rescue of the victims and get them justice as state governments have failed to implement the laws.
Migrant workers, he pointed out, are vulnerable to all kinds of exploitation as they are trapped by illegal agents who promise them well paid jobs.
Bishop Emeritus Oswald Lewis of Jaipur said migrant workers in India are generally poor and they need to be accompanied and assisted in availing the government welfare projects and policies. They are not paid the minimum wage either, the prelate regretted.
Father Jaison Vadassery, the executive secretary of the Commission for Migrants, stressed the need to address the pastoral care of migrants in all dioceses in the region.
Wide awareness among workers regarding their rights and entitlement has to be generated by activating the commission’s work in every diocese and religious congratulations.
The participants agreed that they need to network with each other to end discrimination against women and weaker sections, the disparity between the rich and the poor and the inequality between high and low castes.