Hyderabad, June 18: Major infrastructure and construction firms in the State will soon face the heat from the government which has decided to crack the whip against them for engaging ‘gumpu mestris’ (labourer contractors) to hire rural people to work as labourers on contract basis violating the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act.
Death of 11 migrant labourers from Mahabubnagar district under a mound of earth while working at a construction site in Adilabad district prompted the government to initiate action against the labour contractors first.
Mahabubnagar district administration rounded up 20 contract labourers, who explained the modus operandi of the major firms. Jolted by the arrests, several firms are said to be pressuring the powers that be to turn a blind eye to the practice.
These firms after bagging major contracts get in touch with the contractors, who in turn, identify the hapless people and advance loans by executing promissory notes.
An organised network of middlemen locally known as ‘gumpu mestris’ in Mahabubnagar district, hire labourers by advancing loans ranging from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 40,000. They are then taken to different locations and paid wages of Rs. 1,500 a month, which is deducted as instalment.
Based on these inputs, officials plan to write to the irrigation department to inspect the work sites of the identified firms to detect any violation. So far, 300 labour contractors have been identified in Mahabubnagar district, who are said to have sent over 12,000 labourers to different parts of the country.
Imprisonment
K. Raju, Principal Secretary, Rural Development told The Hindu on Wednesday that 15 cases have so far been booked against the contractors, who can attract three years imprisonment. He pointed out that the major firms have to ensure the minimum facilities for the workforce at the sites.
A joint drive three days ago saw 275 Chenchus from Lingala and Balamur mandals in Mahabubnagar being rescued from far off locations in Meghalaya and other States. “These primitive tribals were engaged for a full year for meagre loan amount of Rs. 10,000,” he added. As part of a special strategy, liberated labourers would be provided over 100 days of employment under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.
–Agencies