Hyderabad: The Government of Telangana, in collaboration with NALSAR University of Law and International Justice Mission (IJM), has launched a statewide awareness campaign against bonded labour, marking the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons and the Golden Jubilee of the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) (BLSA) Act.
The initiative was unveiled during a state conference that brought together government officials, legal experts, civil society organisations, bonded labour survivors, media representatives and law students to strengthen collective efforts towards eliminating bonded labour through prevention, rescue, rehabilitation and access to justice.
As part of the campaign, ‘Swechaa Ratham’, a bonded labour awareness van, was flagged off by Shri Ch Panchakshari, Member Secretary of the Telangana State Legal Services Authority (TSLSA), and Shri Krishna Deva Rao, Vice Chancellor of NALSAR University of Law. The awareness vehicle will travel across all 33 districts of Telangana to disseminate information, engage communities and build grassroots awareness on bonded labour and legal rights.
The campaign aligns with the vision outlined by Telangana Chief Minister Shri Revanth Reddy under Telangana Rising 2047, which seeks to eliminate bonded labour and modern-day slavery from the state while strengthening prevention, public confidence in government systems and support mechanisms for vulnerable workers.
The conference, attended by more than 380 survivors, focused on enhancing collaboration among government institutions, academia and civil society to strengthen implementation of the BLSA Act and promote survivor-centred approaches to tackling bonded labour.
Speaking at the event, Ch Panchakshari, Member Secretary, TSLSA, said, “Even after 50 years of the BLSA Act, bonded labour continues to exist, which is a matter of grave concern. Human trafficking and bonded labour are not merely legal issues but issues of human dignity, social justice and constitutional values. Eradication of bonded labour requires coordinated efforts from the Police, Revenue, Labour, Women & Child Welfare Departments and civil society organisations. The Telangana State Legal Services Authority (TSLSA) is conducting legal awareness campaigns across villages and has deployed mobile legal awareness vans screening short films to educate rural communities on bonded labour and other legal rights.”
Highlighting the importance of coordinated rehabilitation efforts, Krishna Deva Rao, Vice Chancellor, NALSAR University of Law, said, “The way forward begins with reporting, followed by rescue, release, and rehabilitation. District Vigilance Committees must become more active and effective. Rescue without sustainable livelihoods will push survivors back into exploitation. Rehabilitation must continue beyond rescue. District Vigilance Committees, lawyers, teachers, civil society organisations, civil servants, Panchayati Raj institutions, the SLSA, and every stakeholder must work together.”
Addressing the gathering, Merlin Freeda, National Programme Director, IJM, said, “Fifty years ago, India made a landmark commitment through the BLSA Act. It declared that no person’s freedom can be bought, sold, inherited, or controlled through debt. That law affirmed a simple but powerful truth: every worker has the right to live and work in freedom, with dignity, and in safety. And yet, even today, we see vulnerable workers being exploited in different places. They are in rock quarries, brick kilns, rice mills, and several other workplaces. That’s why, today is the beginning of a broader movement, a movement to transform awareness into action, and to convert commitment into sustained collective effort.”
The conference also witnessed the launch of the ‘Bonded Labour Awareness Song’, performed by singer-songwriter and Advisory Committee Member, Cultural and Tourism, Government of Telangana, Palle Narasimha. Developed to raise awareness, the song encourages citizens to recognise and report suspected cases of bonded labour through the Labour Department’s toll-free helpline.
In addition, organisers unveiled a commemorative booklet marking 50 years of the BLSA Act and a poster highlighting the bonded labour toll-free helpline, which will be displayed across government offices to support public awareness efforts.
A key focus of the event was the testimony of bonded labour survivors, who shared their experiences of exploitation, rescue, rehabilitation and rebuilding their lives. Their stories underscored the importance of sustained institutional support and survivor-led advocacy in combating bonded labour.
Among them, P Lingamma, Panchayat President of Amaragiri and a bonded labour survivor, said, “In my life, wherever I find people still suffering under bonded labour, or facing hardship or injustice, I will stand with them. The officers have supported us, and I too will support the poor. Whatever difficulty or challenge comes, I am ready to face it. I have the courage to rescue people from bonded labour and help them become free.”
The programme also featured a drama performance by the Gajuwelli Pratap Cultural Group, depicting the realities of bonded labour and the journey from exploitation to freedom. Through storytelling and performance, the production highlighted the human cost of bonded labour while reinforcing the importance of community participation and coordinated action.
The conference concluded with a renewed commitment from participating stakeholders to strengthen public awareness, improve institutional coordination and advance collective efforts towards a Telangana free from bonded labour and human trafficking.
