HYDERABAD, March 25: A one-day district dialogue forum on bonded labour was organised at the local press club here on Sunday, by the Bhandar Hari Sangat and Interactive Resource Centre (IRC) where a play was also staged to provide an insight into the working conditions of peasants as well as treatment meted out to them.
While attaching importance to education of peasants and awareness about their rights, implementation of Sindh Tenancy Act 1950 and above all the improvement in their living conditions where they are working, it was also proposed that the government should do something for the welfare of haris out of Rs15 billion funds lying with it for skill development.
Suggestions were invited from the participants o address such a complex issue because efforts made so far had proved that mere liberation of peasants were not enough and something concrete ought to be done.
The theatre's theme revolved around a peasant family which is supposed to be working at agricultural land of a tyrant wadera and they were subjected to inhuman treatment by a kamdar of the landlord.
The peasant complained that while the landlord recovered half of the expenses from them during cultivation of crops, he doesn't give them half of the agricultural share.
The peasants were shown discussing their domestic issues such as marriages and other requirements of life for which they needed money and they owed a huge amount to wadera, who refuse to advance them any loans.
IRC's Waseem Ahmed said that it appeared that slogan of awareness had become a buzzword among those working for rehabilitation of oppressed peasants despite having awareness about their rights could do nothing for their own well being.
He said no body could bring about revolution in one go as it entails a lengthy struggle. He said that emphasises should be given on implementation of existing laws before calling for altogether a new legislation to safeguard peasants’ interests.
“Should we give up struggle for peasants because the Federal Shariat Court has held that no land reforms could be brought about anymore?”, he questioned.
