HYDERABAD, May 18: The District Vigilance Committee on bonded labour, in its first meeting held here on Monday, constituted a committee to prepare plans for rescue and rehabilitation of bonded labourers.

The committee is headed by the EDO of the community development department, with one member each from the HRCP, district council and bar association, police, revenue and labour departments.

District Nazim Dr Makhdoom Rafiquzzaman, who is also the chairman of the vigilance committee, told its meeting that rehabilitation of freed bonded labourers was an important issue. He added that without evolving a proper policy on the issue, the whole exercise for rescue of bonded labour would be in vain.

He assigned the committee to prepare a strategy in such a way that bonded labourers were not only rescued but also provided job opportunities. He constituted a legal aid committee, headed by the EDO of the law department, with one member each from the District Bar Association, HRCP and district council to provide legal protection to bonded labourers.

He directed the EDO to open a join account with one member of the vigilance committee for the expenses to be incurred on litigation of bonded labour. He announced that the district government would provide accommodation for the establishment of an office for the vigilance committee.