Bandhua, a campaign against bonded labour, has demanded immediate action against the contractors in Odisha who allegedly chopped off the hands of two migrant workers on Sunday for their refusal to travel to Chhattishgarh for work in a brick kiln.

“Nilambar Dhangda Majhi and Bialu Majhi have lost a lot of blood and are currently in a serious condition at Sambhalpur district hospital,” Bandhua, which is partnering the Government in the National Rural Livelihood Mission, said in a release.

Terming the incident as brutal and savage, Bandhua demanded that the labour contractors be booked under Section 326 of the Indian Penal Code (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means, punishable by life imprisonment) and the Bonded Labour System Abolition Act, 1976.

Bandhua convenor Shantanu Dutta said “Perpetrator accountability has long been neglected. Since it is a low priority for those in Government who are mandated to combat this form of modern slavery, the operators of bonded labour systems have absolutely no fear of the law.”

 The two victims and 10 other labourers from Nuagaon village in Jaypatna block in Odisha were hired a few months ago by two labour contractors and were given a total advance amount of Rs 2 lakh (about Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 each).

The National Human Rights Commission has already issued directives to the Odisha Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, the release said.

It demanded that the injured workers be given proper medical facilities, financial help, immediate grant of Rashtriya Swasthiya Bima Yojana benefits and alternative and sustainable livelihood for their families.

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