Telangana Government Highlights Need for Joint Efforts to End Bonded Labour

At a state level workshop in Hyderabad, DGP B Shivadhar Reddy and ADGP Charu Sinha stressed proactive victim identification, stronger investigations, and coordinated action across departments to address bonded labour and trafficking

The Telangana Government has called for stronger coordination across departments to address human trafficking and bonded labour, with a focus on enforcement, victim identification, and long term rehabilitation.
The call was made during a state level convergence workshop organised by the Women Safety Wing of Telangana Police in collaboration with the International Justice Mission in Hyderabad. The workshop brought together more than 200 participants, including government officials, police officers, judiciary representatives, legal professionals, media, and civil society organisations.

The discussions focused on emerging trends in human trafficking, including bonded labour and sex trafficking, with participants identifying bonded labour as a largely under reported form of organised crime. Sessions highlighted the need for improved enforcement of labour laws, stronger prosecution systems, and a greater role for Anti Human Trafficking Units.
B Shivadhar Reddy, Director General of Police, Telangana, said that bonded labour is not just a labour issue but a form of coercive organised crime where victims are trapped through false promises and exploitation. He said the police must focus on proactive identification of victims, timely investigations, and securing convictions using modern technology.

Charu Sinha, Additional Director General of Police, Women Safety Wing, said that adult bonded labour often remains overlooked in anti trafficking efforts. She highlighted the need to recognise debt bondage as a criminal offence, strengthen investigations across the chain of exploitation, and adopt a survivor focused approach that ensures dignity and safety.
Anita Ramachandran, Secretary, Women and Child Development Department, said that rescue efforts alone are not sufficient without sustainable rehabilitation, noting that the absence of support systems often leads victims back into exploitation. The Telangana State Legal Services Authority also underlined the role of the judiciary in enforcing constitutional protections and treating non payment of minimum wages as forced labour.

Seethakka, Minister for Panchayati Raj and Rural Development, Women and Child Welfare, said that while legal frameworks exist, effective implementation is critical. She stressed the importance of coordinated action across departments and the need to treat victims from other states with equal dignity. She also pointed to strengthening livelihoods, self help groups, and community systems to reduce vulnerability.
Labour Minister Vivek Venkataswamy said that bonded labour undermines human dignity and requires a collective response involving government, civil society, and the public. He said awareness at the grassroots level and strict enforcement of laws are essential, along with continued efforts in rescue, rehabilitation, housing support, and social security.

The workshop also emphasised the importance of community level coordination, media engagement, and data driven policy approaches. A key moment was a testimony by survivor leader Shivamma of Trilinga, who highlighted the need for survivor led interventions and called for recognition of February 9 as Bonded Labour System Abolition Day in Telangana.
The discussions concluded with a focus on sustained coordination, capacity building, and policy engagement to address human trafficking and bonded labour through a comprehensive approach.

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