'Media can play vital role in highlighting bonded labour issue'

Speakers said the media could play a vital role in highlighting the issue of bonded labour in Sindh province. They were speaking on the occasion of one day training workshop "Role of Media in elimination of bonded labour" held at Hyderabad Press Club (HPC) on Tuesday The training was organised by local NGO, DAMAN where a large number of journalists participated.
Senior Journalist, Jai Parkash Morani said that despite of being partner of 50 per cent with land owner, the peasants could not buy medicine and even they were found to be bonded peasants. On the other hand, landlord is seen to spend a comfortable life and his children are studying in America and London, he expressed serious concerns over the issue.
Such situation occurs in only eight or nine districts of the lower Sindh where there is a majority of peasants belonging to poor Hindu community, he said. The issue of bonded labour could be eliminated but it could not so far because Landlord has become so strong where he extended his power all over the sector including business and bureaucracy, he maintained. Elimination of bonded labour connected with implementation of Tenancy Act and Bonded Labour Act but these feudal and landlords used all force to prevent implementation of those acts, he said.
There is only one hope which is media and it could play a vital role for eliminating this menace, he added. Senior Journalist, Iqbal Mallah said that the Journalist should go through laws of Bonded Labour Act and other related laws as effective reporting could be ensured.
Social activist, Veerji Kolhi said that if laws related to Bonded Labour Act were implemented in letter and in spirit, the issue would be eliminated. There is a dire need to amend the tenancy act which is very old, he said. Program Manager DAMAN, Krishna Lal said that the training was organized to educate the journalists about the issue of bonded labour and how it was creating problems for vulnerable communities in the province. Earlier, Jai Parkash Morani also conducted training session where he highlighted the issue of bonded labour and how media could play a vital role in this regards.