A Profile of Bandhua Mukti Morcha

Its Establishment
Against the backdrop of prevailing atrocities on bonded labourers, mostly migrants, in stone quarries of Faridabad by lease holders and their contractors, Bandhua Mukti Morcha (Bonded Labour Liberation Front) was established under the stewardship of Swami Agnivesh in 1981. He gave a clarion call to fight against this abominable system, which was a semblance of Jungle raj.

Legal Status
It is a voluntary organization registered under Society Act of 1860. Its Registration No. is S/26763/94. It is also registered with Ministry of Home Affairs for Foreign Contribution Regulation Act.

A twenty-five year of struggle
Right from its inception BMM (BLLF) has been struggling very hard to combat this menace. The magnitude of this issue may be well imagined as captains of Industries and services have not only muscles power but also they enjoy political clout in the corridors of power. To combat muscle and money power, BMM (BLLF) had to adopt a multi-pronged strategy which is being followed unrelentlessly. However, in this course of time, new modalities were adopted to cause dent on this issue. These are outlined as under:

1. To identify bonded labour in various sectors of economy, their release and rehabilitation. BMM adopted a two-fold method i.e., direct intervention and through courts.

2. To address the related issues i.e.,

(i) free and compulsory elementary education to all children upto the age of 14.

(ii) Implementation of prescribed minimum wage rigidly.

(iii) Introduction of National Minimum Wage. It should be equivalent to first day salary of new entrant class IV employee of the Government.

(iv) Provision of one kg of cereals to all poor children for each day of schooling as a measure of food security to the poor family.

3. To carry out awareness campaign against this abominable system in the areas having predominance of bonded labour and child labour.

4. To organize Regional and National seminar on bonded labour and child labour to highlight the plight of this poor lot and to design measures to mitigate their abject condition.