For 13-year-old Sushant Kumbhar, a former
bonded labourer from Odisha's Bolangir district, even the basic joys of
childhood, like playing with other children, is denied. His hand is full of pus
and he is in extreme pain. In January, his left hand had been crushed by the
owner of the brick kiln in Karnataka where the family had been forced to work.
They were finally rescued by a non-profit and the case
received a lot of media attention. The Odisha government initially paid for
Sushant's medical treatment. But as the spotlight faded, so did the
government's will to help.
More medical intervention is required, but his parents
cannot afford it.
Santosh Kumbhar, Sushant's father, said, "My son has
become disabled. I sincerely appeal to the state government to give proper
medical attention to this boy and provide him with a job."
In August, the Odisha Human Rights Commission directed the
state government to pay a compensation of Rs. 50,000 to Sushant. A cheque was
handed over, but the family said they could not encash it due to problems at
their bank.
The family is also entitled to Rs. 20,000 per head as
compensation and preference in government schemes under the Bonded Labour
(System) Abolition Act. But though the necessary certificates were issued,
neither Karnataka, nor the Odisha government gave them any money.
Sources in the district administration said they were doing
their best to help the boy.
Umi Daniel, Regional Head of the NGO Aide et Action, said,
"People like Sushant need rehabilitation and the kind of support children
need. They need basic relief and then they should be mainstreamed into
education and other programmes."
Over the last three years, more than 1,100 migrant labourers
have been released from brick kilns of various states, mostly through the
initiative of the civil society. But most suffer a fate similar to Sushant's.
For now, the only silver lining is Sushant hasn't lost hope.
"I go to school, but sometimes I'm forced to come home because of the
pain. It doesn't matter that my hand is broken. I will study hard and get a
job," he said.
NDTV Story First Published: November 13, 2014 23:13 IST http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/from-bondage-to-disability-nightmare-still-not-over-for-this-13-year-old-620652
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