People work as bullocks to repay loans

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 19: Reports that a section of people are offering themselves to be used like bullocks to till land and repay loan sharks, have created ripples in the social circles here. Following the reports, Mr CR Das, district magistrate, Malda yesterday instructed the assistant labour commissioner and the Malda SDO to inquire into the incidents."The information is quite shocking. However, I have issued an inquiry and have asked the assistant labour commissioner to look into the matter. The Malda SDO would also inquire into the matter," Mr CR Das, DM, Malda said.A section of the media recently reported that a group of poor people, who had taken loan from money lenders and could not repay the loans, were now paying off their loans by "working as bullocks" in fields. Reportedly, they are literally hitched to the yokes of ploughs to till the land of the moneylenders.The DM criticised the role of local panchayat officials, who had failed to implement several government schemes in Muchia and Sahapur gram panchayat areas including 100 days' job in the interest of the poor people.The DM admitted that huge funds meant for government sponsored schemes including 100 days' job remained unused in the two gram panchayat areas. Ms Arunima De, SDO, Malda has been directed to seek clarification from the gram panchayat pradhans regarding non-utilisation of funds.While the district admi-nistration is finding it hard to believe that humans are made to work as bullocks, and is inquiring if it contradicts the labour laws, residents of Muchia, inclu-ding Mr Asit Sarkar, panchayat pradhan said, "It is nothing unusual. Some people do work as bullocks to earn money, to repay loans. It is a common practice in these villages. Some people do such work in their own fields when they cannot buy bullocks to till the land."Mr Sukumar Mandal, a labourer was yesterday found working as a bullock in the paddy field of Mr Jiten Mandal pulling the plough on the wet field at Taltal village under Muchia gram panchayat in Old Malda Block. Sukumar said that he had taken a loan of Rs 10,000 from Jiten Mondal and was now repaying him at the rate of Rs 70 per day by pulling the plough in his field. A similar scene was witnessed at Kailashpur village too where a man was seen pulling the plough alongside a buffalo attached to the yoke.