By Khadijah Shah

Karachi, Pakistan: According to a survey carried out by Pakistan Institute of Labor Education and Research (PILER) in the bonded labour settlements around Hyderabad, 60 per cent of the women responded as being sexually abused during the period they remained bonded with the landowners.

Moreover, an overwhelming majority of these bonded labourers (90 per cent) are scheduled caste Hindus, reveals the research. Hindus are more susceptible to bondage due to their religion, caste and weak economic conditions. Since they are in abrupt need of credit, they receive loans from landowners and accept all their conditions in return. They in return have to pay a heavy price by sometimes presenting their daughters, sisters, wives and even mothers to the landlords.

However, the landlords in most cases seize the Haris when they don’t meet the impossible conditions of the loans. The Haris continue to remain poor and pay off their debt through work on agricultural
fields. This leads to their never-ending bondage with the feudal.

Source:
Ferhan Mazher
Rays of Development Organization
Sargodha, Pakistan