Adivasi

The Tribal People of India

About 8% of the tribal families are compelled to bonded labour.

Most of the indebted families are illiterate. Their income at the time of the study averaged about 135 Rs per family per month. The average debt for bonded labour is 546 Rs /family, on the average there are 2 out of 6 family members bonded by labour, their average age ranges between 18 and 35 years; male work in agricultural activities, female as maid servant. Working hours from 6 to 8 hours if they take food at the master's house, otherwise they work from 7.00 to 12.00 and from 15.00 to 17.00. In most cases they are not released until the agreement period is over, even if they could repay earlier.

There are four type of bonded labour:

• Lagangadi ( marriage loan repaid by labour which is valued much below the market rate);
• Palemod system ( to overcome starvation, a loan is obtained from landlords and repaid in terms of grains or labour, repayment is 3- 4 times the principal);
• Avani System ( petty amounts are repaid to the landlords in the form of bonded labour.during sowing and harvesting season leaving aside his own work for 8-10 hours a day for 25-30 days in a month);
• Contract System (petty loan are repaid by bonded labour, owing to debtors ignorance, the loan is scarcely repaid in total and so they live in semi-slavery constantly)

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