Regional Focus: India

Overview: HHI-IRDCS

project to build 25 housing

units for former bonded

laborers, Tiruvallur District,

Tamil Nadu

Strengthening Ventures that Promote Justice 2

Regional Focus: India

Despite the Bonded Labour (Abolition) Act 1976, there are millions of bonded labourers in India today.


Projects & Initiatives

Most bonded labourers begin working as debt slaves from the age of 4 and can spend their whole lives knowing nothing but enslavement, abuse, hunger and penury.


Overview of Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu, a state in Southern India, has almost 10,00,000 bonded labourers.


The Fight Against Bonded Labour

From January 2003-April 2006, the Integrated Rural Community Development Society (IRCDS), was an implementing partner of the International Labor Organisation (ILO) for the Prevention and Elimination of Bonded Labour in South Asia (PEBLISA) project.


The Fight Against Bonded Labour

Under PEBLISA, IRCDS rescued 25 bonded labor families from the rice mills of Red Hills and restored them to their home village of Bangarampettai, Tiruvallur District. The freed bonded labourers belong to the Irula community.


An Overview of IRCDS

• Established in 1986• Operates in 235 villages in Tiruvallur District and 4 villages in Kanyakumari

Activities include:Women’s Empowerment• Set up 1,035 self help groups comprising 14,886 women• Started Family Counselling Center and Short Stay Home for women in distress

Child Development • Provided shelter and education for 136 abandoned children• Helped reunite them with their families• Secured release of 423 child labourers and enrolled them in school

Healthcare • Functions as a District Resource Centre for Tamil Nadu Voluntary Health

Association which promotes healthcare and HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness


An Overview of IRCDS

Persons with Disabilities• Set up self help groups among 1,234 disabled persons• Set up community-based rehabilitation programs• Promotes awareness of the rights of disabled people

Housing and Sanitation• Constructed houses for 98 Dalit (low caste) families• Built 3,720 toilets by enlisting local help and using low cost technology


Rehabilitation Efforts

Pooling their rehabilitation funds of Rs. 10,000 per person, the released bonded labourers established their own rice mill at Bangarampettai as a means to earn their livelihoods.


Rehabilitation Efforts

IRCDS partnered with the NGO Shivaraj network and obtained a grant of Rs. 3,40,000 from Geneva Global to buy flocks of sheep for the 25 families.


Habitat for Humanity India-IRCDS

Habitat for Humanity India is partnering with IRCDS to build 25 houses in Bangarampettai village.

At present, the Irula community live in small, flimsy thatched huts with poor sanitation facilities.


Overview of the HHI-IRCDS Project

Justice issue

Rehabilitation and housing of former bonded labourers

Program summary

Construction of 25 houses on sites, each measuring 1,035 sq ft, granted

by the Government.

Funding

The Government has provided Rs. 34,000 per family per house. This

amount is insufficient and HHI-IRCDS through JVI hopes to raise an

additional Rs. 20,000 per family per house.


Projected Impact

• Shelter for a people group that has lived in dire poverty for generations.

• Increased levels of hygiene and sanitation causing a reduction in diseases.

• A settled way of life which will allow schools and medical facilities to come up.


Specific Areas of JVI Support to HHI

• JVI anticipates providing Rs. 5,00,000 to HHI for constructing housing for 25 families in Bangarampettai village, Tiruvallur District.

• JVI is interested in collaborating with HHI to develop up to 100 units of rehabilitation housing in the slums of Chennai over the next 12 months.


Conclusion

The mission of Justice Ventures International is to secure freedom, justice and restoration for the poor and oppressed by strengthening ventures that protect human rights and promote development.

Regional Focus: India

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