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Will starve to death, but will not go to Kashmir: Contractor gets 2 thousand bricks made daily; On asking for money, says – will get your wife picked up A to Z Counsel

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  • Jammu Kashmir Viral Video; Chhattisgarh Migrant Workers Struggle Story | Janjgir News

from Janjgir of ChhattisgarhOne hour agoAuthor Mridulika Jha

I was pleading for my 9-month-old daughter, who was suffering from fever, to let me go home. In return, he gave me a crumpled 10 note and asked me to go to the government hospital. Together they had a man, who was watching round the clock. Somebody would threaten us with blowing our necks. Somebody beats. Kashmir may be a paradise for others, it was hell for us.

Talking in Chhattisgarhi-milled Hindi, Bhojram Banjare picks up his daughter while stating this. The more softness is in those hands holding him, the more strictness is in the eyes. They say again and again – will not go to Kashmir now, even if they die of hunger.

He returned to Chhattisgarh from Budgam on the 17th of the same month. The same Budgam, where the Sukhnag river flows. Sukhnaag means the river that gives happiness. It is said that once its water was so transparent that people did not buy mirrors. Bhojram did not get a glimpse of the transparent river.

He did not see the Calcutta waterfall or snow in the valleys. He lived in a thatched hut near a brick kiln, where even if the air could touch the door without a chain, the 24-year-old’s chest would throb. They were hostages who had to work without money for many months to come.

A week ago, a video from Kashmir went viral, in which laborers from Chhattisgarh were pleading for home-back. As the matter progressed, both the states intervened and the process of releasing them from captivity and sending them home started.

I reached Sakti to meet these returned people. This district, about 250 km from Raipur, has been separated from Janjgir this month. In the new household, like cumin-turmeric is tied in paper bags instead of masaladani, some similarly messy things were seen scattered here as well.

Chorbhatti village is very backward. Once it rains, then there will be roads covered with mud.

Small potholes in the name of the road, and mud brick houses instead of houses. Inquiring the address, Chorbhatti came to the village. Some people were playing cards at a shop in front. On saying ‘labourers who returned from Kashmir’, one immediately pointed towards some kutcha houses.

Before I proceeded, the other interrupted – ‘Jane on foot, you must have a wonderful chikhla!’ Don’t go on foot, there is a lot of mud. There was concern for strangers on the faces playing cards. I could only imagine how the troubles of such gullible people must have been when they were trapped in their own Kashmir.

There was a crowd in front of those houses of Kachchi Basti. Woman in beautiful saris and man in his best (perhaps) clothes were laughing. There was silence as soon as I arrived. Hearing the purpose of coming, one said- ‘He has returned, that’s enough. If you tell, will our hurt be healed’!

After some time some people agree to talk. Bhojram was one of them.

Pointing to the sick daughter, she says – she had fever. The body heats up, but we keep on making bricks. Mrs (wife) used to cry. Accidents have been avoided many times. As soon as the daughter recovered, the father was paralyzed in the village.

When he started preparing to return, the contractor took him hostage. Saying this he looks at the bed next to it, where between the folds lies a shabby body. This is his father, who cannot even walk.

Most of the house is dark. The smell of drugs and the sound of moaning is coming from the bed. I shoot the question almost ignoring it – but I have heard that you people do this on the pretext of avoiding work by taking advance?

The question was shrouded in doubt, but instead of shaking, a voice comes – you are seeing yourself, how is your father. As for the advance, we knew that if we would have become a slave after taking advance, we would not have taken a single rupee earlier.

There was talk that in exchange for making two thousand bricks every day, money would be available every week, but from June to September, there was not a single penny in hand. When asked, he started beating. They would abuse our women and threaten to pick them up.

Describing this, Bhojram shows several videos, in which his fellow laborers are badly injured. However, the video cannot be shared as the marks of the beating are on the private parts of the body. On being asked to give some ‘normal’ videos, it is said – Labor officers had come from Kashmir, they removed all the videos from each and every mobile by standing in line. This is what was kept secretly.

When people return from the city, they bring memories from there. We also used to go somewhere earlier, so we would have brought nice clothes. The city was colourful. Keep your hair up. When he returned this time, he had to sit with his face hidden. He was ashamed that he had returned without money, he too was beaten up. Could not go to another village to meet relatives.

The new age Bhojram tells everything with an open mind, even to his embarrassment.

Nearby is his wife. Sajni is wearing a pink sari made of imitation silk. To lighten the atmosphere, I laughed and asked – you have such a beautiful saree, then how did you become poor! Immediately the answer comes – Pitra (father’s side) is going on right now. There was worship in the house, so didi put on her sari.

Sajni Banjare tells that by making the children sleep there on the ground, they would keep working.  There was neither a safe room for them, nor a good atmosphere.

Sajni Banjare tells that by making the children sleep there on the ground, they would keep working. There was neither a safe room for them, nor a good atmosphere.

This twenty year old mother has a lost expression on her face. She had escaped from Kashmir, but the fear of her daughter’s illness and the past is still on her face.

Medicines vials are kept in the cupboard on the wall. Hanging is a closed clock, which was bought at the time of marriage. Along with two bunk beds. This is the wealth of this family. Turning my eyes, I ask – what will you do now?

Will go to another state because if you do not earn, then what will you eat? Sajni says while asking.

Anuj Bhardwaj of the same village also went to Kashmir along with his family. They tell- People from distant villages (workers call them Jamadars) would take us away on a bluff and after reaching there, drop them off with the local contractor. Then he beats us, or doesn’t give us food, no one listens. No matter how big the need may be, if you ask for money, you get only 10 rupees.

Why 10 rupees?

If you give more, we will run back with tickets!

Anuj had gone to Budgam with his wife of four months pregnant, because brick making is not done by one man. They say – she would do light work and take care of the children, I would take care of the rest. Thought, if you return, you will have money in your hand. Then delivery can be done easily. He returned, but beaten up and empty handed.

This pond and Shiva-symbol of Chorbhatti have a lot of recognition among the villagers.  While going to other states, everyone bows their heads here and prays to return safely.

This pond and Shiva-symbol of Chorbhatti have a lot of recognition among the villagers. While going to other states, everyone bows their heads here and prays to return safely.

Why didn’t you go to the local police?

What the police, we even went to the army (army). He said that if the sarpanch asks, we will accept your point. The sarpanch said in favor of the contractor and the soldiers returned.

Were you guys imprisoned in a building?

Not a building, but in a brick-kiln. We couldn’t get out of that area. Four people could not talk together. People with cloths on their mouths were constantly guarded. If someone was suspicious, he would be beaten up first, then he would disappear.

According to Anuj, a day before returning, a girl from Baloda Bazar went missing. His family is still searching for their missing daughter in the valley. The report has not yet been filed. CCTV was installed all around. When the contractor was asked by his family members to check, they refused.

Let us tell you that in Gulmarg, there is a Kashmir apart from the tourists who visit the Dal Lake, blooming in the snow and wearing flowery clothes. Kashmir of brick-kilns and injustices. According to the Kashmir Brick Cleans Manufacturers Association, there are around 350 kilns in the state, of which around 200 are in Budgam district.

The picture is from September 19.  Workers from Kashmir have returned to Chhattisgarh with their families.

The picture is from September 19. Workers from Kashmir have returned to Chhattisgarh with their families.

Terrorist attacks on laborers take place here every day. In June this year, two people were killed, but no action was taken. These faces, living in unnamed villages of poor states, have less status than the insects in the valley.

The pain of Anuj, who has an actor-like appearance from South films, however, is not limited to Kashmir. He got his 8-year-old son enrolled in school, but could not send him to school. It is said that if you earn, then leave your trust on Ola Kakhar!

The son is standing there. Looking intently at Mike. He also does Hindi by interrupting his father speaking in Chhattisgarhi. Exams are going on in other schools of the country, but reaching the school is the biggest test for this child.

Continuing the conversation, I reached the Labor Department of Janjgir, where I met Labor Officer Ghanshyam Panigrahi, who says that from 2001 to 2022, a total of 977 people were victims of forced labor. That is, they were forcibly caught and made to work.

When I use the word hostage on his own figure, things change completely. The sound comes after taking a sip of black tea – most of the cases are fake. The laborers take the advance and then do ‘all these’ to escape.

Despite many attempts, not much information comes out. At the same time, there is a talk on the phone with Nirmal Gorana, who is the conveyor of the National Campaign Committee for Eradication of Bonded Labour. He asks- Ask them that if the laborers were not bonded, then why were they sent after being rescued, after getting a train ticket! There are crores of laborers in the world. Do they rescue everyone and send them home!

In the midst of this question as concrete as the poverty of the workers, we reached Janjgir station, where the remaining hostages were also about to arrive. The station was deserted. It was found that after paying some money, they were left at the big station (Bilaspur) to go wherever they wanted.

Read these 3 stories from the Blackboard series on the go

1. Girls are locked in iron doors: day starts at 2 o’clock in the night; Baba posing as Krishna, used to instigate girls to make love

There is no sob in this report. No tearing eye will be seen here. No one will scream and cry, nor will he count the dangers. There is only one building here. There are closed doors and girls. Those girls cut off from the world, who left home after watching ‘Baba’ videos on YouTube and were imprisoned in an ashram in Rohini. That prison, from where there is no way out. (read full story)

2. Story of half widows, no news of them for years; Forgot to laugh too, but Teej-Karva Chauth does not let anyone forget

Chutki was in stomach when he moved to Bombay (Mumbai). One day the phone calls stopped. Then the news stopped coming. Everyone says, do Teej-Vrat, make a vow – the husband will return. The rain also came in the dry village, but they did not come. I am the one who has become half widow. During the interview, she keeps her eyes together, as if asking, will your report reach her too! (read full report)

3. Our own daughter was gang-raped and we are imprisoned: Daughter lost her life, not giving job to son; On the contrary, the villagers call us murderers.

Two years have passed since the sister’s gang rape. Since then we are at home- home arrest! Young, but can’t go to work. Can’t send daughters to school. Teej festivals have come and gone. No congratulations came, no tears wiping hands. Sister’s ashes are waiting. Our lives are waiting. If justice is served, time will move forward. This is the house where time is stuck in September of two years ago. (Click to read full report)

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