Kolkata, February 9, 2026:
A series of legal awareness and sensitisation programmes were organised across West Bengal to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976, with a major public outreach initiative conducted at Howrah Railway Station.
The programme was held in the presence of Shri Niladri Kumar Nath, Honourable Railway Magistrate, Howrah Station, and noted human rights activist Md. Imtiaz Bharati, alongside representatives from law enforcement, civil society and medical services.
The initiative was organised by Anubhuti, a coalition of non-governmental organisations, in collaboration with the Government Railway Police (GRP), West Bengal. It focused on enhancing public awareness on bonded labour, human trafficking and labour exploitation, particularly among migrant and transit workers who remain most vulnerable.
Speakers and legal experts elaborated on the legal framework under which bonded labour stands abolished nationwide, governed by the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976. The sessions highlighted statutory responsibilities of State authorities in identifying, releasing and rehabilitating bonded labourers. Participants were sensitised about the role of District and Sub-Divisional Magistrates, Vigilance Committees, enforcement agencies, and rehabilitation provisions under the Central Sector Scheme for Rehabilitation of Bonded Labourers (2021).
Parallel Legal Awareness Camps were also conducted across key districts under the guidance of the State Legal Services Authority (SLSA), strengthening access to justice through coordinated action between legal institutions, law enforcement bodies and civil society organisations.
Organisers emphasised that railway stations serve as critical transit hubs where vulnerable workers can be identified early, making such locations vital for prevention of bonded labour and trafficking networks.
Addressing the gathering, Shri Niladri Kumar Nath, Honourable Railway Magistrate, Howrah Station, said, “Freedom and dignity are non-negotiable human rights. Let us build a society where no person is forced to trade their liberty for survival.”
Md. Imtiaz Bharati, human rights activist, added, “Awareness is the key to justice. Only a conscious society can defeat exploitation. Bonded labour laws empower us; change is inevitable.”
The commemorative programmes concluded with a renewed call for sustained inter-agency coordination to ensure effective implementation of the Act and timely rehabilitation of rescued workers, five decades after its historic enactment.
