CHENNAI: Mari, a former bonded labourer, used to sell fish for a living before becoming president of the Bangarampet Irular Munnetra Sangam.

An association of 32 `former' bonded labourers, released from rice mills, laid the foundation stone for their own rice mill in Thirupair panchayat in Thiruvallur on Wednesday morning.

A Rs. 3 lakh grant from TAHDCO, support of the District Collectorate, an International Labour Office (ILO) project, encouragement of local residents and the intervention of a non-governmental organisation made the unique initiative possible. Leyla Tegmo-Reddy, director, ILO, New Delhi, and Rie Vejs-Kjeldgaard, deputy director, were present for the event. They were in Thiruvallur to assess the outcome of the project to eliminate bonded labour in south Asian countries.

Thiruvallur was one of the districts selected for the project and local coordinator, Maria Sathya, was instrumental in the release of association members from various rice mills in the district.

The intervention of the Integrated Rural Community Development Society (IRCDS) also helped some of them secure certificates of release from the authorities.

Murugesan recalled how his work at the rice mill had become steadily more difficult in early 2001. The number of hours he spent at home dwindled to four or five a day as the quota of sacks to be filled rose. He, along with several others, was convinced by ILO and IRCDS representatives that alternative livelihoods were possible. He joined the association that Mari headed.

The 32 members of the Irula community were granted Rs. 10,000 each to find livelihood options. They pooled their money to start a rice mill with a capacity of filling 15 to 20 sacks a day. "It would be of great use for the local population who previously had to travel a few km to find a mill," said Stephen of the IRCDS.

Ms. Tegmo-Reddy called the initiative a unique and positive outcome of the project to eliminate bonded labour. Ms. Vejs-Kjeldgaard said the project was especially important because it was a local community initiative, which ILO had facilitated.

The land was provided cheap by a local resident and the District Revenue Office of the Thiruvallur Collectorate has pledged any other support the project might require.

Ms. Tegmo-Reddy interacted with the residents and association members later and urged them to keep their children in school.

Mari recalled that none of their children went to school five years ago. "Now more than ten children attend schools and one of them has reached X standard," he said.

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