A ritual to freedom

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

The business was brisk for tattoo artists and bangle vendors as Irulas from different walks of life were flocking to have the names of their loved ones inscribed on the chest and hands while women were busy buying bangles.

But then the shops were also working as a means to identify bonded labourers from the irua community.

“The festival serves as a platform to identify bonded labourers,” says Kural Amuthan, community relations manager of International Justice Mission.

“We provide the tattoo artists and bangle vendors with forms. Those Irulas who may be a bonded labour are identified and our team tries to track them through their mobile phones,” says Hepzhi bah, director of government and community relations in IJM.

“We have comes across 3,784 cases of bonded labour and almost 99 per cent come from the Irula tribe,” says Kural.

Mariammal and Venkatesh, who were rescued last year from a rice mill recount the horror they have undergone during their bondage. “They abused us and never let us out. It was only IJM which gave us a new life,” says Venkatesh, who is now working as a construction labour.

Meanwhile, a play is enacted by the rescued Irulas who highlight their plight and spread awareness among the community against bonded labour.

“Now the Irulas, who just live for the day are thinking about the future. They want their children to be educated so that they don’t end up like bonded labourers,” says Kural.