Bhubaneswar: Law minister Prithviraj Harichandan on Thursday said Odisha has adopted a zero-tolerance policy against human trafficking for bonded labour and that the state govt would ensure strict legal action against those exploiting vulnerable people while strengthening investigation and prosecution to bring offenders to justice swiftly.“The state govt will ensure strict legal action against every middleman and agent involved in trafficking vulnerable people for bonded labour. We will strengthen investigation and prosecution to ensure offenders are brought to justice swiftly and face stringent punishment,” said Harichandan while addressing more than 200 released bonded labourers from across Odisha who gathered in Bhubaneswar to mark the United Nations World Day Against Trafficking in Persons and the golden jubilee of the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976.The programme, organised by a survivor-led collective, brought together survivors, govt officials, legal experts, academics and civil society representatives to deliberate on strengthening Odisha’s response to bonded labour and human trafficking.On the occasion, the minister released the Odia translation of the revised central standard operating procedure (SOP) on bonded labour. The SOP is intended to guide frontline officials in the identification, rescue, release, repatriation and rehabilitation of bonded labourers, including those rescued from other states. Officials said the Odia version would facilitate more effective implementation across districts and improve inter-departmental coordination.Harichandan also unveiled ‘Restored in Odisha’, a publication documenting the govt’s policy initiatives, rescue operations, rehabilitation measures and inter-departmental efforts to combat bonded labour and human trafficking.Representatives of survivor groups from various districts said they were increasingly taking leadership roles in identifying vulnerable communities, creating awareness about safe migration and labour rights, helping rescued labourers access govt welfare schemes and strengthening community vigilance against trafficking.A panel discussion involving representatives of the state govt, Odisha State Legal Services Authority, legal experts, academics and civil society organisations focused on improving victim identification, access to justice, inter-state coordination and community-based prevention strategies.Several survivors shared their experiences of exploitation and rehabilitation, stressing that timely rescue, sustained community support and livelihood opportunities were essential to rebuilding lives and preventing retrafficking.The survivor collective also called for faster investigation and prosecution of traffickers, recruiters and exploitative employers, backed by stronger inter-state coordination. It urged the govt to expand rehabilitation beyond financial assistance by ensuring survivors have access to housing, healthcare, education, livelihoods, social security and other welfare schemes.
