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Uttar Pradesh, India - An army of workers, their faces encrusted with dust, toils beside a story-high pile of unfired bricks. They are helping build a new India that appears to be leaving them behind.
From sunup to sundown they spend their time pouring wet mud into molds, lugging them to the kiln, firing them and then pulling them out. For their backbreaking work, they do not receive wages.
They are working to pay off a debt.
In India they are known as bonded laborers, bound to those who gave them or their forefathers an advance or a loan. Human rights advocates call them modern day slaves.
"I cannot leave here unless I pay my debt," said Durgawati, a mother of three.
A contractor had approached Durgawati and her husband, offering them work in a far-off village. He had said there were plenty of opportunities and offered to pay an advance to prove it. Desperate to make a living and with no work in sight where they lived, they leapt at the chance and took the 1000-rupee ($22) advance, she said.
The contractor found them work, but now, the family said they were trapped.
"I have to make a thousand bricks per day," Durgawati said. "It's the most difficult thing. We are given big pieces of soil, then we have to break it. Then we make it into a dough. Then we knead the soil."
She and her husband aren't the only ones in the family working. Their eldest daughter is nearly as fast as the adults at molding the earth into bricks. She is just five years old.
The family said they have not received wages since arriving three months ago. None of them has any idea how much they are owed. They said they have never been shown a balance sheet and couldn't read it anyway. They are illiterate and desperate to make a living.
They do get a small food allowance but say it barely feeds them. Still, the family wouldn't dare leave the worksite that doubles as their living quarters.
"They will beat me if I try to leave," Durgawati said.
Dozens of families are in the same predicament. They are all oblivious to the fact that bonded labor is illegal in India. The legislation has been in place for decades, but enforcement is lax.
"They have to work and repay the loan. They keep working," said Arun Singh, their supervisor. "We have an agreement."
He acknowledged that children are also working on the site, which would be a breach of India's child labor laws, even though he insists otherwise.
"Kids are working here for food. They need food. If they can't fill their stomachs, they need to work," Singh said.
Singh also asked CNN to pay for the interview. "Madam I charge, you pay me something," he said to no avail.
In another village, people have lived in bonded labor for generations.
"They remain in slavery forever," said Supriya Awasthi, South Asia director of Free the Slaves, a non-governmental organization dedicated to eradicating slavery around the world. "There are 27 million people around the world who are in slavery, and [the] maximum…live in India," she said.
According to estimates by policymakers, activists and scholars, the number of modern day slaves ranges from about 10 million to 30 million.
In the village of Dhomanpur a woman applied turmeric paste on the swollen foot of her husband, who said he had injured it when trying to get a cow off a truck for the landowner he works for.
"Even when I'm hurt or sick they call me to work. You won't believe how many atrocities I have to go through in a day," said Kharban Gagai, his leg hanging over his rope bed. The couple lives in a mud hut in a village owned by the landowner.
"When my father was alive he took an 8000-rupee ($175) loan from the landowner. Since that time I am having to work day and night for him," Gagai said, adding that he has never been paid.
His father's debt changed his life. No matter who in the family borrowed money, that debt became his debt, Gagai said.
Before his work injury, Gagai said he tried to escape several times but was always found and brought back.
There are no physical signs the villagers are living in bondage: no chains, fences or armed guards, but the villagers say they are all slaves just the same.
"If I don't work, they will beat me. They will abuse my daughter," said Lalti, a mother of seven. "If you don't give in, they will sell your daughter or son."
Lalti said she had to borrow money from the landowner to treat her husband's tuberculosis years ago, and now she can't come and go as she pleases.
"I am an illiterate, so how would I know how much we owe, and what's left to pay? I don't even know how much we had taken. It's been many years."
As payment for work, she and her neighbors receive leftover food or bags of grain, Lalti said. They are beholden to the man who owns the land they live on.
None of them had heard of the Indian law that made bonded labor illegal more than 30 years ago.
"People in modern day slavery have no idea they can ever access any kind of rights," said Awasthi of Free the Slaves.
Lalti hopes she is able to work long enough so her children will be freed from the loan that binds her family to the land and a hard life.
"The day I pay my debt I will be free. We'll be prosperous," Lalti said.
Am from Nigeria! I am Taking A Stand to Fight Slavery.
Are you standing up in your room? That's useless. What have you actually done?
I went to med school and now owe a ton of money. I work 80 hours a week and will do so for the next few years to pay it off. I'm an educated slave.
Yeah, you have a lot of nerve comparing your situation to that of those poor people,, Your loan was an investment in your future. You'll pay it off and enjoy a lucrative career with a lot of prestige. If you are a slave to anything, its to your own ambitions. Nothing wrong with that – but a far cry from what is described in this article.
@yeah.....but you don't live in a mud hut with no air-conditioning, your kids and wife arfe not routinely abused in front of your own eyes and if you can't repay the debt you have, no one will beat you with an iron rod and sell your daughter to a pimp. You are not a slave by any strech of the imagination.
@yeah- Wow, I hope your medical education has you doing research alone in a lab somewhere or being a surgeon who has limited interaction with conscious patients. Your inability to recognize your own privilege and your offensive comparison of your situation to these slaves makes me think you're probably pretty arrogant...
YEAH !! cut down on your lifestyle.. ignore that 50 inch LED that you really want and you should be able to pay your debt off within 1 year. I bet ya.
The largest check I write each month other than rent is to student loan. Student loan bases payments on gross salary, ignoring taxes, rent or groceries. I have to watch every penny and have no savings.
It's worse for US soldiers; the federal govt takes their debts straight out of salary, which is why so many are homeless; you could get a 2000 pension but end up with 200 once the govt takes soldier's debt out.
Yeah, as a doctor you're one of the most privileged human beings in the world. These workers are the least privileged human beings in the world. How can you even draw a comparison?
Yeah, you may be educated but you are a moron. You can choose to stop working - you would go bankrupt. They might take some of your toys, but they will not beat you. They will not put you in jail. They will not rape your daughter, nor force your 5 year old child to work just to have any sort of food to eat.
You are not a slave, just an obnoxious person who cannot imagine what slavery is actually like.
Obi, you may pay a lot in student loans, but you are not forced to work. No one will beat you if you stop working. And the veterans may have it bad, but they actually GET money from their paycheck. Some people actually take home less than nothing - they OWE money to their employer each month they work, because of mandatory benefits.
In Wisconsin, Walker's new budget would do that to graduate students - they would earn less than they owe in benefits (forget worrying about rent - there is literally nothing left for food or housing or anything else). Yet they are still not slaves - they can drop out of school.
Yeah – you went to college, and willingly took on debt to better your life...not to survive and avoide being raped. Idiot
Edwin is a liar. I'm a Wisconsin graduate student, and it is NOT in Gov. Walker's bill to "do that to graduate students". The only ones mentioning getting rid of tuition remission – which is the only way "this" could be done, are the pro-union people spreading deliberate misinformation (i.e., a fancy way of saying LIES). In fact, the only way Walker's bill would directly affect me is that I'll pay double for health insurance... still less than $50/month for one of the country's cushiest HMO plans. Not bad when my parents pay $1000/month for a much much worse insurance plan. In fact, I've got plenty of money left for food, housing, weekend hobbies, a bit of travel, and even some left over for the bank. Plus, I've got a guaranteed job for the next few years. I'm not dropping out of school any time soon!
Man! You are a piece of work, What would you suggest of him to do since that brain has all the knowledge..
Successful troll is successful
Definitely true
Nigeria? Isn't that the land of conman and drug trafficking? Ask people in any country in Asia about Nigeria, and that is exactly the first thing that comes to mind....con jobs and drugs.
This is why sir, your name is GBush...you have no idea about what goes on in the world. You only have a few labels for each country.
@Gbush u are a racist,go f**k ur mama
All of Asia and Africa are corrupt. It's been that way for hundreds of years. Naive Westerners go in there, thinking they can change things overnight. What a waste of time.
People really need to learn how to spot a troll.
That is the most stupid statement I have read today. Using a few peoples action to sterotype a nation.
Let me explain you Mr.Bush – all these poor countries are poor because of the leaders. As the leaders are not good, they will not give good education and good living standards to the people. So, in order to get a loaf of bread, people start stealing and it continues as there are no other ways. Of course, easy money is the best way for anyone.
Poor countries in Africa and Asia are poor due to the imperialist era in Europe that lasted from the 1500s to the 1960s. Yes, 1960s is when the last colonies in Africa got their independence.
Richard.....have u made ur country (US) or any other western country free of any social evil...r they free of any prejudice against humans of other color or religion...have u made ur country free of poverty, corruption, violence....U have not....no one can.......atleast don't point fingers on other country....see urself in mirror...u guys go freedom 200 hundred years back....still u r far from being perfect...its a country of more than a billion who got its freedom 60 years back....not an excuse but it'll take its due time
I bet you are a racist red neck from either Texas or a neighboring southern state.
@Dan Moonlight - I suspect you're missing the irony of your comment.
@TRex: can you tell us everything about the world since you are mr. know it all. Every single thing from a hamlet to city. for example, X_neighbor got robbed in some hamlet in India, or africa and then thing happens in the city. etc.
You are a disgrace to your country and your race, or are you not form the same America who builds luxurious palaces for the prince of Saudi Arabia and yet sponsor hired assassins to take out anyone who challenges your unjust exportation of my countries natural resources, Yes i am Nigerian and don't even get me started on what your Country does to the rest of the world ! there was an oil spill in Nigeria for months , why was it not in the media? The moment it happened on the gulf of Mexico we had our faces rubbed in it every second!
A piece of advice, People like you should stop sticking there dirty finger into other peoples business. Idiot !
You are a narrow minded idiot. So you are saying there are no conmen in your country? You better shut your dirty trap.
Ok ,One of my first questions......The man and woman say they are illeterate,,,,they need money,,,,,,,WHY in the hell did they DECIDE to have three children that could never support in the first place?? Ya know,,Seems we have the exact same problem with the chronic welfare recipoients in the balck ghettos and the white trailer parks,, and the and every where south,of the border in Mexico ,,Science NOW KNOWS what causes pregnancy!
Doc Savage
You idiot! do you have any damn idea about the circumstances these people they live in? they spend their lives in vicious circles, they don't have any money to eat and study how would they know 'WHAT SCIENCE KNOWS'!!
I love these articles, they really bring out the dim.
Folks, don't feed this barely literate troll any attention.
To bad they didn't figure it out before you were born.
You can dislike the way Doc Savage said it, but there is an absolute truth to this. One of the biggest problems with poverty and welfare is the poorest and least capable are the ones that have the most children. 7 children when you have to work to pay off debt (not that anyone should be bonded by others debt) is not smart, literate or not. The same goes for people in this country that are too poor to pay for their own health care(medicaid) or food (food stamp recipients) and yet many have 5+ children. You don't need to read to know how children are born, and you dont need to be highly educated to know about condoms. Those of you that don't realize over population is the biggest threat to economic sustainability as well as the environment are living in a dream world.
Dude...Can you comment on this slavery as well...in the CNN report..
@ Mike – Does it sound or look like condoms are readily available – I see no citgo gas station? Plus, some are enslaved over $22, do you think they can afford birth control? As a matter of a fact birth control is probably illegal in this slave unit, the more children a person has the more free work the land owner gets. Also, in every article about slavery the word rape is associated. Children and women are sold and sexually abused. I wonder how many of the 7 children were produced by the land owner. Greedy people taking advantage of the uneducated and poor. As in America, the worst schools in the lowest income, the wealthy need to keep us stupid, to indebt us, to control us.
He might not be literate but his point is sound. The biggest problem with the planet today is that there is no true natural selection. Humans are no longer genetically progressing and this is an example. I would never bring a child into this world unless I had the means to take care of it. Call it common sense, education, unnatural selection...If you look at the United States you see huge separation of education levels. Is this because the education is not available? No, it is the individuals lack of desire to educate themselves.
Would you suggest they die. I guess that might cure things.
Death is a part of life. We obviously have too much birth and not enough death. Destroying the planet to feed more people is not the solution...I hold the value of this planet over every single human that breaths its air. After all, we are not the only living creatures on it. We are obviously not the most intelligent either.
Doc Savage,
Your comments are misinformed in many respects:
1. Poor families in 3rd world countries have very high child mortality rates – you have many children because you're lucky if 1/3 survive to adulthood. Give birth 10x to see 3 or 4 turn 16.
2. In agrarian cultures families rely on their offspring to work the farms. American farmers routinely have 4-6 kids to work the farm, and no differently, in a harsh environment like India, having 7 kids survive childhood would increase the number of incoming producing family members.
3. Birth control? No such thing. The impoverished to not have access to birth control – imagine how many kids Americans would have "accidentally" without brith control? You make abstinence sound so easy, but the reality is that the ONLY reason Westerners control their birth rate is through birth control NOT abstinence. India would love to control unwanted pregnancies, but who is going to pay for this? As you can see, they are struggling just to find food, and education is unavailable, but yet, you expect them to have a few condoms handy? Please.
It is easy to judge, but please review the circumstances and compare their reality to yours and you will see that the decision to have 7 kids is less "choice" and more circumstance based out of necessity and in many instances, lack of education and resources.
Americans do not need to have 7 kids to work on farms anymore. How has having kids helped this family? The best birth control is not having sex and it is free! Mike said this best. In its current state, the only thing holding back anyone on this planet is themselves. If you think otherwise you are a bleeding heart.
These people need Jesus more than any can imagine. It is through Him they will find true and real freedom. They are illiterate and unable to move forward. Their lives are an analogy of the human condition; enslaved by sin and bound by it to death..even though Jesus has paid the penalty. However, what use to them is their physical freedom if they don't have spiritual salvation. But, we must set them free physically and teach them the truth. Oh, that we could change this situation, but Jesus can.
Doc , you can't be that naive. . Where do you propose they get the birth control... they are NOT in America, there is no planed parenthood.... no welfare.... no help.... Abstinence is rarely achievable for a normal healthy human being… and for the illiterate, they do not know better….. don't fault them for their ignorance. " and for your information ignorance is quite different than stupidity"... look it up if you know how
In a patriarchal society in which women are frequently beaten over minor incidents, do you really think a woman can say no to having sex with her husband? Stop putting Western laws and morals on these people. Rape is a weapon used against these women, do you think a rapist will use a condom? The point of the article is to raise awareness that whole families are enslaved to satisfy a debt and because these people are desperate, they work.
You may want to compare this to the US in which those who can least afford to have children have them anyway. Ok, so write your Congressman and say you want the government to promote family planning in all its forms.
@Immortal – Better a bleeding heart than none at all. It sounds like you believe that everywhere in the world has the same opportunities as where you live. This is clearly untrue. Have you ever considered all the bleeding heart Socialist institutions to which you owe your opportunities? I assume that where you are there is offered a basic education for little or no cost and that there are libraries available where you may seek out even more information. In many places these basics are not available, not to mention that in India specifically, there is a caste system that prevents (at least socially as it is technically illegal) many from having any chance to better themselves regardless of personal drive. I think that before you make a blanket judgment, you might do well to check the validity of all of your assumptions. Perhaps a nice logic study would be beneficial. You can find a lot of quality texts on the subject at your local library. Have a wonderful day.
@jpeay – Perhaps it would be more useful to help these people in THIS life instead of the NEXT life. I don't wish to discount what I know for you is a sincere expression of a desire to help, but I think that we can do better than offer them a fairytale. Their problems seem to be that their backs are broken, not their souls.
I am very educated but thanks. To the above...rape is not the reason India has the worlds second largest population. To Bryan: You don't know me, know my education or knowledge about India's societal structures. Simply, everyone has opportunity or ability to leave or better their situation. Stop giving excuses for their failures. Obviously this society allows for decision making...This lady knowingly took a loan and is now forced into paying it back. If only the United States government did this, maybe we wouldn't be in financial turmoil.
Many of these people are illiterate and don't have any semblance of an education. The popular belief in India is that if you are poor you should have more kids so that there are more people to send out to work and hence more income. They did not have children because of a lack of planning or ignorance. They are victims by birth nothing else.
I can't believe all the bleeding hearts on here. Doc hit the nail on the head. The rest of you need to wake up.
@Doc Savage.....think of someone (anyone) you actually care about. If you knew that person were about to be born and the mother considering an abortion, would you allow it to happen?
Being poor does not mean you don't have the right to love and be loved by having children. We in the West ascribe materialism to happiness. I have travelled to poorer parts of the world, and surprised at how happ-IER people there were.
The truth is that these places exist because of the governments ruling these contries. We Americans should boycot countries that allow this to go on. The truth is that everyone posting comments, including myself do not have the baseballs to do something about it. We are only concern about places like Lybia that produce oil. In these places our government will consider no fly zones and other reprocussions to stop attrocities. If this bothers anyone, please right to your president, senators, and congressmen. Let them know that this is more important than some of the other bull crape they have been spending our treasure, sons and daughters lives. stop sending dollas and business to these places and see if they won't react. That should get their attention.
@Immortal – Your assertion that each family's plight is their own is easily dismissed by the fact that many inherit a bonded position. As an ascribed status, slavery can only be seen as a matter of free choice among the persistently stupid or depraved. What is more, you mention social structure, but seem to hold little understanding of how well-known elements of community organization shape the decisions and choices of individuals: placed at the bottom of India's hierarchy, and with few other options save for starvation or prostitution, the "choice" to bond oneself can scarcely be regarded as such. You claim education, but one struggles to find any evidence of exposure to higher learning beyond Kindergarten in your arguments.
Doc, how do you even know they understand how babies are made? If they understand, how do you know they actually made a choice? How do you know that the children are even the children of the husband? (How do you know she wasn't raped?)
They didn't "decide" to get pregnant. It's people like you who are unable to understand things in context that are at the root of many of the world's problems. Marie Antoinette wasn't being cruel when she said "let them eat cake". She was being ignorant. She honestly thought cake was an option because *she* had plenty of cake.
Like Marie Antoinette, you can't grasp a world that isn't like the tiny one that surrounds you. But, when informed that the rest of the world isn't like your own, instead of having "a-ha" moments, you try to rationalize your mean-spiritedness. You choose to lay blame on people for whom your brand of "common sense" is something they have never been exposed to.
You carefully neglect to remember back when *you* didn't know everything. You "forget" how vastly different things were even a decade ago. Instead, you prefer to take a holier-than-thou approach and look down your nose at people who haven't had your advantages.
Shame on you.
Welcome to the third world my friend. Science does know what causes pregnancy but the vicious cycle of poverty and childbirth are ancient in the third world. Contrary to what you may believe about the literacy regarding prevention or availability of the tools of the trade, illiteracy is rampant and many of the villagers have no access to sources of information or other contraceptives. Unfortunately, this is going to take several more decades to bring under control in India.
@Mike, same questions and where do they get said condoms? Do you even know if they are aware of condoms? Even so, consider the land owner. He almost certainly is going to demand that they have children. If they don't, he's likely to find someone to father the children (i.e., rape the mother). Why are you acting like these people actually are making a choice?
@ Immortal – I have no reason to doubt you on your education level. I do however have reason to doubt your knowledge of India based on your comments. In many cases, they DO NOT have a choice but to in-debt themselves for a $22 loan. Thousand rupees could save the life of a dying child in the government hospital. When you live in the villages of India and you don't have a tenth of that money in your hut, better to take the loan and be a slave to save your child than otherwise. It's not like she went and bought an iPod with the money...
@Athos: Resolving to personal attacks shows weakness of mind. Your other points were valid up to that point. The fact that the lady took the loan and is now working it off, is by definition not slavery. So you are saying I am a slave to a credit card company because I maxed out my mastercard? In some sense of the word maybe. The term slavery implies FORCED labor. She was not forced into labor, she made a decision and now she is paying that decision back. It is most definitely unfair. The same could be argued about my credit card interest. If I murder and am forced into lockup am I then a slave, or am I paying back my actions? Our decisions have consequences, educated or not.
Doc Savage, due to the fact that a lot of these countries have very limited educational resources if any. I"m sure they don't have sexual education classes, nor do they have people providing them with contraceptives.
They have no access to health care or birth control. How are they supposed to not get pregnant? I suppose they should just abstain for their entire life for fear of getting pregnant? Is that how you would live? You people really need to think about things before you post.
I think CNN should discontinue this posting format entirely. No good really comes of these comments, just highly opinionated people standing on a soap box.
Savagely honest. Right on, bro!
@Immortal – The problem with your example is that the act of murder, I believe, implies some measure of intent on the part of the murderer. Intent further implies that the murderer–if he is indeed to be called a murderer–held at the time of the crime a reasonable understanding of the consequences of his actions. The victims of usury so described in the article, however, appear to hold scant understanding of what kind of contract they are entering in to–that they will be bound for generations, that their children will be forced into prostitution, and they will likely never escape their debt. What is more, some element of malice should be present in order for "murder" to occur, a disposition I can safely assume is largely absent in the unequal contract entered into by both parties in India. Call me cynical, but I doubt that the victims of usury in India are told up front of these conditions. The same applies to your credit card example: when signing a credit contract–for short-term loans, cars, mortgages–you are presented with clear and unmistakable terms (for instance, 4.95% credit over a period of six years).
China wants everyone else to stop having babies, when they have 1.5 billion people. How pathetic. They want to make more room for themselves. Preaching about overpopulation to Western nations, while they have billions!
The problem with your example is that the act of murder, according to law, implies some measure of intent on the part of the murderer. Intent further implies that the murderer–if he is indeed to be called a murderer–held at the time of the crime a reasonable understanding of the consequences of his actions. The victims of usury so described in the article, however, appear to hold scant understanding of what kind of contract they are entering in to–that they will be bound for generations, that their children will be forced into prostitution, that they will likely never escape their debt, and that disobeying those to whom they are indebted will likely yield violence. To say that they should go ahead and learn these things prior to the contract (and I use the term "contract" loosely here) implies the type of widespread literary and social equality simply not present in India (and call me cynical, but I doubt these people are told up front about theses things). What is more, some element of malice should be present in order for "murder" to occur. I doubt the poor people described in the article held anything even closely resembling malice in their decision to become slaves. The same applies to your credit card example: when signing a credit contract–for short-term loans, cars, mortgages–you are presented up front with clear and unmistakable terms (for instance, 4.95% credit over a period of six years).
Incidentally, whether we call it "slavery" or something else makes little difference, for the results are largely the same: upon threat of violence, the people described above are bound geographically, financially, and politically without hope of legal recourse, and they cannot escape the effects of this bondage even through birth. Sounds a lot like slavery to me. We can go ahead and wrestle with problem semantically–calling it this or that, slavery or something else–but whatever the outcome the fact remains that the practice is fundamentally wrong and cannot be justified.
Whoops–sorry for the repost.
I prefer freedom in poverty than servitude tranquility. After God created us very very free. He only gave a natural code of behavior thay universal in nature and applicable to all his creations particularly freedom. It is wrong to rob somebody of his /her freedom. I will donate my last dime to a fund that will free these indentured slavery.
Out of The children of these ordinary people will come out extraordinary people.
You have no heart . You are enjoying your freedom because some people fought and sacrificed their lives to guarantee it for you. It is time to extend it to someone else.
Coffeegirl – You are exactly right. Poor families have this economics working for them. More kids means more mouths to feed however if kids can work and make more than it costs to feed them, that is extra money in their pockets. However it results in illeteracy, lack of education, lack of better opportunities in the future, but that is the future. They have to survive present to worry about the future.
I'm thinking that the rest of the "civilized" world has just as many pregnancies. The difference is that they kill their children instead of letting them live.
Well, i've actually met these kind of people. The main reason these people have so many children is because they think of them as investments. The more children you have, the more they can work and bring home money. Of course, they don't think of the expenses of looking after the children and providing for their welfare. After all, they are illiterate; the idea of maintaining a budget is beyond their ability. Also, in rural areas like these, people are not fully aware of methods of safe sex.
Hey Genius – These people are too illiterate to READ or COUNT and have no money. Do you think they have access to or even know about BIRTH CONTROL and CONDOMS ? Do you think they'll stop having sex ? The women will probably be BEATEN if they don't have sex with their husbands. You really are an ignorant tool ; try to see things from the point of view of someone who doesn't have ANY access to basic human needs as you do, and can't even imagine the things you're talking about. OPEN YOUR MIND AND EYES, fake DOC !
Mike & Doc Savage – are you really so blind? Do you get rape?????????????????????????? God help you when karma comes a knockin'.
Doc, I didn't know they let people from outer space comment on these articles. Here on earth life, love, marriages, raising a family are the most important things about being human. They are not negotiable, they are fundamental, and no matter the circumstances it happens with predictable regularity.
You logic and your compassion are extraordinary in their absence. So, no matter what you think you aren't qualified to make life decisions for anyone. I do have some hope however that perhaps you have convinced yourself that you shouldn't reproduce.
You said you are from Nigeria. But why are you using a Ghanaian name as your screen name. hahahaha. too funny, stealing names as well
Does this mean that every American citizen must have an "American" name? No more Lars or Sofia or Tien or Brigitte? Yeesh.
And American companies are sending jobs to these countries. Countries that dont respect their own laws or their people.
Very nice observation and factual declaration. Seems like CNN has a deeper story that they undoubtedly will not address in their typical liberal yellow style.
If I were a conspiracy theorist I would say that is next. Blowing the whistle on U.S. big business as the ring leaders of the slave labor! Even though, logically speaking it is in front of our faces. Compare the salary of a U.S. citizen to that of an Indian or China worker...Where a U.S. company does not have to follow a U.S. minium wage law, this alone could be considered slavery by U.S. laws. Rules can be broken when it benefits the rich.
I don't these folks are making bricks to be sent back to the US.
Exactly. My husband and I both lost our jobs at a newspaper to outsourcing to India. The company is British owned and run and the labor force is in India. Why would a news company, that touts it's community reach and it's community awareness lay off a large chunk of it's staff and send the jobs to a country that clearly does not care about it's lower class citizens. They still believe in a caste system, they still don't have running water or toilet facilities in many areas. They have people who go to "rich" homes and clean their crap with their bare hands!!! Their country is growing sure, they are in the labor pains of industrialization in the rural areas, but what of the pains in our own country? We need to quit outsourcing.
Mrs. Bee
>Exactly. My husband and I both lost our jobs at a newspaper to outsourcing to India. The company is British owned and run and the labor force is in India. Why would a news company, that touts it's community reach and it's community awareness lay off a large chunk of it's staff and send the jobs to a country that clearly does not care about it's lower class citizens. They still believe in a caste system, they still don't have running water or toilet facilities in many areas. They have people who go to "rich" homes and clean their crap with their bare hands!!! Their country is growing sure, they are in the labor pains of industrialization in the rural areas, but what of the pains in our own country? We need to quit outsourcing.
Would you consider paying some reparations for the trillions of dollars looted from India ?
Will you fight to let the Kohinoor diamond in your queens crown be sent back to India ?
Maybe india would not in the miserable condition as it is, but for "British Colonial loot".
In the history of world, there was a never equivalent and unlimited loot for violent british thugs for 2 centuries.
Why is it so hard for british to accept and pay some reparations ?
It is really great to see that you're still writing great articles still. Excellent article you have got here. I understand that tons of people see your blog posts but I often think about how many people truly understand the value of what is really being said. Your blogs really makes me think a lot.
The reporter who did this is scum, she should handed the lady a 20 dollar bill and help that lady get out of bondage. Someone let me know how i can send this lady a 20 dollar bill, so we can stop bickering on here.
to those scum, it will only validate what they are doing. they take that 20 dollars and then find somebody else to "loan" to and they will wait until somebody else comes to give them 20 dollars.
just to clarify...
the scum that i just referred to is the slave owner
yes, should could have given $20.00 for the lady's freedom but you know the land owner would find more thing to charge to her debt-it's not about paying back the debt. If it was, these abused people would have been free years ago. The land owners want to keep them as slaves. It is so pathetic that this is apart of humankind. What can we do to help?
Dude! Appiah is a Ghanian name. Who are you fooling?
I went to med school and now owe a ton of money. I work 80 hours a week and will do so for the next years to pay it off. I'm an educated slave.
Right – I feel so sorry for you.
"paying off their father's debt"... wow, hits too close to home. Is this where we're headed and what we'll leave our children and grandchildren if the US gov keeps spending the way it does... slaves to other countries who we are in debt to? I hope I'm wrong...or I guess we can just keep printing up money so that inflation is so out of control our kids have to work all day just to buy a loaf of bread for their families...
however if we continue to drain money away from education and infrastucture the way we are doing now, our children and grandchildren will like these people in India, too uneducated to know when their debts are paid. Yet we give tax breaks to huge corporations who ship jobs over to countries who tolerate bonded slaves.
Yes, I see the future generations making bricks in India and China. Get real.
You are not far from truth.
@Appiah Gift
Oh look ! A Nigerian taking a stand. What is it ? You just need their bank routing number and you will send millions of dollars to them.
Please do not compare your post medical school situation to these people.
Any oil to be had? Otherwise America does not care. Sorry.
I thought this story was about me from 1993-2007!
I am from Zimbabwe and will fight slavery too
I first came to your website over 2 years ago and it is really great to see you're still here. These write ups really makes me think a lot. I'd sure like to know some additional information. It's so rare to see a nice article like this one these days. You're obviously very knowledgeable about this subject. You are clearly an expert in this field soI have no doubt many of these ideas probably are simple to someone like yourself but I am still unclear about a few things you've written here.
Lots of very misinformed peorple here..
However I have owrked with educated indians, if the indian person is just a little bit above you,then this person will treat you like dirt.. if the indian person is just a little bit under you, then they will behave like a little puppy, you see their culture is hugely different than ours..they treat others on a class basis, also in India the treatment of women is horendous,, women have no value in India..
I never like any of my indian peers, especialy when they treated their wives like dogs right if front of me.. I have to control myself not to say a thing.. but I always wanted to tell thouse women to leave the bastard..
India is not the best place in the world.. they still live like animals....
General observation. I just realized that these posting walls are always filled up with opinions and comments, but about 99% if it is just cyber pollution sputtered from the ignorant, to the even more ignorant, leaving me with either a headache or complete disapointment(usually both). I dont even know why I keep reading these things. well I'm not coming back, and i think that will be better for me. Oh yeah these people are getting screwed and nothing is a simple as 99% of you think, so Shut Up and leave your opinions to food choices and clothing style and leave the tuff stuff for people with some darn sense.
How nice. The only thing we hear from our former colonies is that we used them as slaves hundreds of years ago. They want money. You never see them protest or sponsoring a organisation who's against slavery in the rest of the world. White people do. 'Apartheid' in South Africa didn't ended, they just turned it around. The slaves we traded in the past, were the ones we bought from African kings. Slavery is a black thing.
I think we need to take more than stands to fight slavery. We need to take action!!!
This is not just in India – Indians in US adopt a new slavery – they take away the passport of Business ViSa holders and keep them in slavery for a minimum of 5 years before they are released in to US. Slavery is a part of Human kind and in different periods it is called by different names – look at people working in software companies – they are slaves of different nature – please analyse their work culture and nature – they are slaves – worse than the brick kiln labourers – who atleast have a social life and these new age slaves have their social life also destroyed
And you/they are obviously aware of the requirements before going to the us, they chose to go, so whose fault is that? There are other countries out there Canada, in asia there is Singapore. So you guys went into the US eye wide open, don't complain. I won't live in the US, point made I think.
And btw, illiteracy is not an excuse, they have obviously lost their will, illiterate people can count cant they? My grandmother was illiterate actually both, they can count. So what's the problem? You cant draw lines in the mud? ///////// that makes 10, so there is no excuse you dont know how long you worked and how much you owe. Maybe it is low IQ or something because any normal person can count and if you have the will, there is always a way. And also not to forget corruption, even if these people manage to escape the authorities are corrupted and probably wont help them.
It's not so simple. Surely, these people can count. But, most probably, they would have been made to sign an agreement under duress which would have applied an exorbitant rate of interest (E.g, 35-50%) on the loan. So, once they putt their thumb's impression on this agreemnt for whatever reason (illiteracy/stupidity/urgent need of money/under duress), it's quite tough for them to pay it back – more so because the wages will also be defind by the loan giver. So, its quite a hopeless situation for these bonded labourers. Education is their best bet, I guess!
Jay, surely you cannot be so ignorant. Obviously you live in your own world of fantasy. India is not like us whee one could own a house and car and still be considered poor. You simply have no idea what the rest of the world is like. even if one were literate, one could not just up and leave. The police and leaders are in cahoots with the slave masters and they also get their share of the profits. In india if someone complains to a superior about a junior officer asking for a bribe, the bribe will double because now the superior officer has to get his cut.
It never ceases to amazes me how insensitive and ignorant so called educated people can be. Your grandparents were obviously not surrounded by people of a 3rd world country level of education. What do you envision when you think of a 3rd world country? There is nothing in these pockets of societ. There is no daily school cirriculum, no electricity to study by, not even books or candles. Pathetic. Although I strive to be a postive thinker and avoid negative feelings, it is my hope that you can step in this womans shoes, if only for an hour to see how she lives. Maybe then you will find compassion.
You cannot make an assumption that these individuals have been exposed to the same levels of education and support that you have (or any other "normal" person, whatever that means.) Normal is relative. Children are often raised in these environments and spend their days making bricks, not learning about letters and numbers. I can't make an assumption that you have had educational opportunities or a family that was able to nurture your growth, but the fact that you are here and can form sentences means that you probably have, to some degree. You can't assume the same of these people. Your world (and mine) is not like theirs. All the will they can muster may not be enough to fight the corruption of governments and the fear that their "owners" instill in them.
Did you miss the part about how it was the father who took out the loan? Or the part about how they aren't told how much they're getting paid or how much is being applied, if anything, to the loan? Or the part about getting beaten?
This same kind of arrangement used to apply here in the United States to Americans. They called them "company stores", though.
errr...which planet are you from??
I do not think that matters 🙂
Excellently said Satish. Working for 18-19 hrs in private companies that ship job to India for cheap labor is a way of ensuring more slavery plus at the same time making a inflation in the economy around and degrading the value of education and skilled people.
Do any of the Indians were asked to go to US for slavery? Or anbody from US compell you to take BPO jobs in India.
You choose everything and sledging others. US propritors doing business that is there job and you are asking and inviting them for job.
But again you are throwing mud on them instead of emancipate India from the DIRTY POLITICIANS. ALL ARE CORRUPT AND CULPRITS EVEN PM AND RECENTLY ACCUSED THE RETIRED SUPREME COURT CHEIF JUSTICE OF INDIA.
Dear Friend, Due to this off shoring helps India to even think about getting of mess they were in for ages. Lets assume all of these back office jobs gone and Indians are free to work for eight hours a day what will they do?? India is not China where government is not corrupt . See the topic "Brick Building Slaves" they are doing this because they have no access to offshores jobs or there is no offshore job invented yet to accomodate the, What a thankless nation you are. American lost millionsof jobs cuz of India and you are not even thanked onces.
I like Adnan and I agree
Satish...are you serious? get off the drugs..
What social life does a whole family working in a brick factory have? At least the software worker has the option of going to work in a cosy brick factory if they wanted. Can a brick factory worker quit and go work in a software company? I'd like to know why software workers aren't lining up to do back breaking work in a brick factory .. their whole family included .. nevermind no chance to send ones kids to school .. so that means even the kids cant break out of the cycle.
He's actually comparing professionals to people who can't read.... he's probably high...anyway don't waste you're time with this guy...
I will ahve to agree with you Jay.
White collared Indians in US, I agree are perhaps not treated fairly but that forms the basis of immigration. I am not justifying it, but to compare them to labourers living below poverty line is a bit outrageous. These so called 'Indian Slaves' in the US live there to afford holidays in Miami and Peurto rico, wear the newest in fashion and open fat NRI accounts. And I am saying that becos most of my freinds and family are these'so called slaves', and I am the same, albeit in UK. And to think that only Indians work 18 hours a day in US, Satish probably needs to speak to some of Amercian counterparts and Indian counterparts. My aunties and uncles who work in India, in Gurgoan works just as long as hours s their american collegues in the US. And for fat pay packets.
I would recommend Satish to perhaps resign from whatever he does and try out labouring for no money for a week, perhaps he may rewrite the article then.
Its not slavery its a decision to enter into long term, penalty driven contract for a clear financial reward. Im Indian in the US. I love it here but sometimes I get frustrated I dont have the freedom to travel where I want when I want. If you consider this slavery then you would say the same for ROTC, military service, service for the state department, even going to med school. You effectively make a decision and then you dont have any choices for a period of years.
Please consider the plight of the people in this article. Its serious and your comments are making light of poor people while you lead a comfortable life.
I'm slightly confused by your comments. In America, we do choose, in some cases to enslave ourselves for the hopes of a better life after a few years of sacrafice. From the articles I've been reading, especially this one, people are born into debt, never having the choice! To take over a family members debt, which is illegal but not enforced...There is no recourse for these people...And at the end of the day, they likely thank the land owners and boss for the scraps of food they receive. As always, Greed rules and people find ways to defend it.
"They have a social Life" , what are you talking about mate. They works throughout they do physical labor. Nobody and I mean nobody who has the resources to come to U.S and work is comparable to these people. I don't care what their situation is.
Super odd... this page was loaded when I turned on my browser. I willfor sure follow your social websites. You have a great sense of humor. I hope you are making money off this website. Neat blogs.
Foundation of modern India cannot be built on such cruelty. Go CNN help them feel the freedom
And what are you going to do?? Just like true Indian sit, watch and blame others.
LISTS OF Coorupt BILLONAIREs of india...(apx.Rs.45 = $1)
Rs.500 crore ( 5 billion) = 1 Koda
Rs.1000Cr = 1 Radia
Rs.10000Cr = 1 Kalmadi
Rs.100000Cr = 1Raja
100Raja = 1 Pawar
10000 Pawar =
To tell you the truth no one can help india,neither UNO nor USA nor CNN or any other media (as media in here are just a puppet of these politicians and tycoons like ambani.We'r lotted by british for 200 years but surprisingly how much they looted from here are not that much as our own politicians have looted from us in only 60 years.India needs to be renovated as soon as it possible & this can be done only by revolution like it happened in egypt.
Thats exactly what India is..... they are talking about competing with China and blah blah blah. But this is REAL INDIA, Governments are corrupt. Hindu extremists have made other religions life hell.
And people are slaves even in 2011. Come on India.... Wakeup stop dreaming of satellite. Focus on these poor ones.
So, can Mark or CNN suggest a way out? I am against any form of slavery but how will the debt be paid back? simply written off? Or will CNN or Mark pay it to "free" the slaves?
Ajay: Not Mark or CNN, The Government of India and Justice System of India should curb on their high and rich class people especially their landlords how they are abusing and dashing their lower caste, less resourceful labors. And the whole India should start taking care of each other by killing and discouraging the abuser right at the spot. There is no country like India if we take out the corruption and violation of human rights through our Justice System, if our Justice System come to their senses before its too late.
If they did not borrow the money then it is not their problem. If they borrowed the money, they should know how to draw lines on paper or in the mud and know how much they owe and how long they have been working, you do not need to be literate to know how to count lines. So if people are not stupid, they should know how long they need to work to pay what they owe off. Now no one can help them if they are dumb, because those sort of people exist everywhere and people get duped no matter where they are, could be US could be India. There is no cure for lack of intelligence.
Jay Daniel, you are quite naive I think. Do you really think that it's possible for these workers to actually sit down with the landowners (slaveowners really, let's call them what they are) and add up the numbers together to determine how long they need to work to pay off the debt? Get real! Such a discussion would probably never happen to begin with, and even if it did the slaveowner would quote some exhorbitant interest rate or invent a required "balloon payment" as the reason for the debt not being paid yet. Surely you don't expect that an illiterate person will understand compound interest and other such complex loan terms?
The failure here is that there is no effectively operating justice system to police these slumlords and slaveowners. They know they can get away with it and they care nothing for these poeple (whom they probably see as "sub-human" given their low caste), so the cycle continues indefinitely because there's no one there to stop it. For you to blame the victim here is completely unreasonable, ignorant and just plain cruel.
Yes , definitely there is a way out. The Govt and NGOs and or banks should come together and do something and get these people stand on their own and see that India eneters the next decade(atleast 2020) proudly.
It is the dignity of these poor peple that is binding them to the 'Loans of their fore fathers and just don't want to break their fore fathers promises of re-payment. That is India ! Isn't that great?
Education is the only way out...
You are right. Education is the only way out and it is happening in India. It will take a long time to eradicate poverty but it is happening.
I think this is a third world problem
Mark – Get off your high horse and smell the air. You seem to be one of those missionaries having tough time converting people forcibly or surreptitiously.
@mark- I wonder why obama went to poor india and signed $20 biliion deal with india that in turn will create 54000 jobs in USA ,and hence the americans can buy their daily loaf of bread. Stop blaming others and try to recover from recession.
You seem to really know who you really are deep down. I just needed to tell you that this post is awesome! Your website really keeps me really well informed on the latest news happening in my area and around the country. It is a strange thing I believed I was a pro on this topic before seeing your site but it turns out, I am still a student. It's really hard to find high quality writing like this these days. And that is a really expensive and could become a dangerous venture.
Thats exactly what India is..... they are talking about competing with China and blah blah blah. But this is REAL INDIA, Governments are corrupt. Hindu extremists have made other religions life hell.
And people are slaves even in 2011. Come on India.... Wakeup stop dreaming of satellite. Focus on these poor ones.
CNN cants help HELP YOURSELF!!!!
And I APPRECIATE CNN for bringing in this article showing us the real face of INDIA>........
Oh C'mon. There are multiple sex slaves in USA as well. And do you think Muslims find it easier to live in USA ? I will bet you that many Muslims feel freer in India than here. So stop condemning India.
I suspect that India also has sex slaves and that not all Muslims are comfortable in India. But I doubt that there are many multi-generational bonded laborer's around, not at the poverty levels of the people mentioned in this article.
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While I appreciate CNN for reporting this cruelty and agree with Satish and couple of others, I think slavery is abundant in the US. The slavery to mortgage companies where you lose everything including your credit history, slavery to the education system which has more interest in resolving creationism rather than science, slavery to religion where one cannot use the word 'God' nor pary in school, slavery to holidays where 'Xmas' is referred by 'Holiday' etc. Nations are great, it is the human greed that is the issue...
Slavery to mortgage companies WTF? are you high? You trying to compare these bonded labors to the well to do average middle class in the US. Get off your high horse, you pay interest on any loan that is how the system works. If you are not paying interest who would loan you any money? You think banks are out there for charity?
These bonded labors are being cheated, the mortgage company is not cheating yuo. You agreed to those terms knowingly.
Do us all a favor next time, if you can't think don't, just don't try to make a stupid comment.
I agree with this completely. Human greed is the problem and as long as we are "paying" into this illusion of financial garbage that is shoved down our throats we will literally rape this earth and continue to kill and harm each other. All in the name of money? How ridiculous .. it's a piece of paper, the more that people realize money isn't real and stop revolving their world around it, the better off we will all be.
Being an Indian, I feel ashamed of the situation. India may be shining, but with huge population explosion, the fruits of economic boom in India is not reaching the poor.
i know how you feel because I'm a Mongolian and Ulaanbaatar is one of the most polluted city in the world.
So they are slaves bonded for $175 loan. Don't you think most if not all of the world are slaves through the same mechanism. Our governments are given and so are our lives. I don't believe slavery or the world as a whole has progressed since ancient times. We just have laws that make lawyers put everything through a maze of law but the outcome is the same...we are enslaved no matter how nice our lives look.
i agree
@ TPap – Really? The world hasn't progressed since ancient times? I take it you just posted that comment on a typewriter instead of a pc, right? Everybody's a slave no matter how great our lives look? LOL – Are you serious? Separating reality from your philosophical babble, let's consider a couple things. Although I'm certain the situation you're describing is more or less the idea of "mental slavery," it doesn't even register on the same scale as physical slavery. It's like saying you received emotional abuse as opposed to sexual abuse.
The difference comes in with the fact that these people and other slaves in the past are literally FORCED to do this hard labor. It's mental AND physical slavery. They wake up every morning without the hope of retiring in a beach house some day. Every single day, they are told that they are less than human and are looked upon with contempt while they are forced to do back-breaking work.
When's the last time your boss came to your little air conditioned office and told you to build their new building for 19 hrs/day on a bread and water diet for an indefinite period or face the crack of a whip? Oh, and by the way, bring your 5 yr old with you. Pick up a book and read before you make such ignorant and unrealistic comments.
And for the rest of you that think you know the plight of these people, I have news for you. You don't! None of us do! I emplore you to take a look back on the history of the world. This wonderful, beautiful country of the US was built much the same way as India is being built now! On the backs of African slaves, Chinese railroad workers, the blood of Native Americans and a whole host of other slaves and sub-par salary workers. So yes; you should learn from the past and do what you can to aid in humanitarian projects such as this. At the rate they're going, they'll be the next superpower in less than a decade!
This wonderful, beautiful country... Who are you trying to fool? The US government has been the cause for so many un-needed wars and has literally given every other country the only ultimatimum it knows how to give: Your either with us, or against us. The war on terror, ooh weapons of mass destruction! the US gov't feeds so many people large amounts of bullshit it's hard to believe that some people know which way is up. You have no clue for the lack of a better term how the US is a perfect example of how disgusting this world is becoming. George Bush as a president.. c'mon, all credibility lost ....
It's so sad. Since most of the people working there are illiterate, they don't know if they're finished paying their debt or just working for free. It's a no-no situation.
I really do wish more writers would write more articles like this one, most of the blogs online are complete garbage. Do you really believe this new trend will continue into the next few months? Like so many people, I try to learn a little bit more about myself every day. I even found myself shocked and dismayed by how people acted. It's odd to hear this from you.
Slavery everywhere..............in some gulf states, employers also take passport of employees..literary enslaving them
It's not in 'some' gulf states – but in all of them. I live in Kuwait, and the extent of slavery in the region is staggering. (mostly Indians, Filipinos and Bangladeshi are enslaved)
Andrei: The last time I was in Dubai I recall mostly Indians were flourishing and spending happy life. Not to mention UAE is India's biggest trade partner. Now if you blaming Arabs for their special friendship towards India. Then all Indians better leave middle east once for all. I don't think so that is the case. South East Asian should be indebted to Middle East countries for supporting their families and luxury lives. And if they are not thankful to Arabs I would say please try USA once in your life.
Good story about India by Sara Sidner. Could we get the balance right with stories of modern-day slavery from world's second best economy China or even Gulf states like Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait where housemaids, domestic helps and even expat workers of companies face slave-like conditions without weekly offs, without medical leave, long hours without compensation due to very limited staff employed by companies despite making soaring profits.
anis: Truth is bitter and painful. Just concentrate on the current story rather presenting or diverting the topic with your lame excuses. Do not try to hide the facts and for once just accept the wide spread human rights violations happening in India. No one can progress that quickly without violation of human rights even with the latest and updated economic reforms.
Let me ask you something, especially after criticizing the indian people. Who started slavery? Oh let me guess it was the white man, he came during the colonial era and started making slaves of everyone. And they still haven't quit they make people there slaves in Iraq, Afghanistan, Egypt, and many other poor countries by installing dictatorships, by starting wars in the name of democracy when it is purely just for their own benefit, they blame other people about what they do but they never look at what they have done. Now think carefully before criticizing other people. It wasn't the asians the afgans or anyone else who in the name of democracy created terrorists and dictators and then left the people as slaves in their hands.
Ajai thinks slavery started in the colonial period? As long as there have been people there has been slavery, it is not a new thing. Who started it is not the problem, I am not responsible for what my father or grandfather did. Who ends it is the problem. I am responsible for what I do now. My children will not be responsible for my actions or non-actions, they will be responsible for their own.
Ajai thinks slavery started in the colonial period? As long as there have been people there has been slavery, it is not a new thing. Who started it is not the problem, I am not responsible for what my father or grandfather did. Who ends it is the problem. I am responsible for what I do now. My children will not be responsible for my actions or non-actions, they will be responsible for their own. I am 54, never owned a slave, don't know anybody who did. Why should I be made to feel responsible for American slavery because i am white?
Wrong. Actually it was the arabs that started the slave trade. 100 hundred years before the first white set foot on the continent. I should know, I am african
History reminds us that slavery is part and parcel of the greedy and callous nature of mankind rather than something unique to the white, black, brown, or yellow man. Slavery has a very deep reach in the history of man and as said the issue is not who started slavery (we are all capable of recreating slavery in our own way today, though we may polish it off and make it sound and look nice) but what we can and are willing to do today to stop it.
Let's stand up against such inhumane adventure of our time and eradicate slavery for ever
My heart goes to all those people who are being used and taken advantage of their poverty and helplessness. Those poor people hardly afford dinner or lunch for themselves and for their kids. This practice is very common in all those countries who are struggling towards economic giants. Not only India but I would say China too on the expense of their poor citizens dashing and violating human rights they are racing and competing towards economic giants. The world better take notice of those human rights violations, child labor, lifetime slavery to one landlord and minimum wages.
I don't know why CNN does this reporting. Can they provide what percentage of Indian population is involved in this?. Poverty is there in every country which make them work like this for survival. But this is not the true picture of India. I would like CNN to do some positive reporting on India and tell the world how every religion and race co-exist peacefully in this world.
Rather than being embarassed about reality (even if it points out the blemishes of our own family or nation), it is better to consider how we can absolve such a heinous situation. Yes every nation has its own set of blights but does not your heart cause you to be saddened that our fellow human can be treated in such a way in the 21st century? Does it not demand an end to such grieveous sins against our fellow man?
Of course poverty is present everywhere. But to ask that CNN or any other journalistic outlet ignore this issue and talk instead about the country's accomplishments is irresponsible, in my opinion. This is a project aimed directly at raising awareness for an issue that won't leave any of us with a happy feeling, but it's reality – maybe not for the whole of India, but for MANY in that country and others. I'm thrilled they're shedding light on this global problem. If no one did, we would continue being ignorant to the injustice that happens all over the world and right under our noses. I would rather be informed and have the opportunity to respond.
If you can, send me an email and we will discuss, I have an idea you will love. Got sucked into your insight forabout the last hour. You could be able to live through an apocalypse. I just took a break from kissing my boyfriend to write your blog.
Your stuff is great. I am on the same side as you.
It is very horrible when you discouver that human being of the same flesh will treat one another as this.Am not a hindu am a christain and as a christain we are suppose to be our brothers keeper.
pls by the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, let us stop insulting Jesus by using his temple as slaves. I beg all to put an end to it.
God bless u in Jesus mighty name, amen!!!!!!!!
LOL another whack job
This is sickening. The Indian government must put a stop to this immediately.
Wonderful, what a way to give Americans ideas to pay off debts. Go out and pick the harvest until her back breaks and fingers can't move anymore.
the problem is education and nothing else.
I am Indian and I am not ashamed of our struggle.
You are right Kumar. A once holy religion had been converted into a criminal one by the religious mongers. To quote Swami Vivekananda, these religious bigots swept the true doctrines under the carpet and promoted their own selfish dogmas. The sad part his that many follow this "religious scoundrels" loyally today contributing millions to support their luxury lifestyle, believing a room has already been booked for them in heaven
Excuse me my freind, this isnt about education, how many illitrate people are there in the world but they are not slaves..wel what i can say is the government of india isnt doing anything because this is a criminal activity against human rights and the law should be practised, not to be put on shelves. If the govnt isnt able, then UN should step in.
There is nothing so noble about education that it is a cureall for every problem. The problem is the callousness of some people for whom god is money and everything else is a means of reaching their god. The solution is for justice to be served by those in power (Indian govt and individuals).
What a wonder in India! at one side we have a guy living in a USD 2 billion house and on the other side we have a family bonded as slaves for mere Rupees1000! My opinion, Biil & Melinda Gates Foundation should just sent someone over to India to bail them out once . If they blow the chance then we need not feel guilty for not doing anything. Looks like many of Indian billionaires are busy doing pilgrimage to reach heaven!
I think people are getting confused between Slavery and Bonded labour. The article explains how bonded labour exists in India. Bonded labour exists every where, its very common to sign an agreement for the work to be done and the benifits you get. The problem in this case is, the poor guys are illiterate and they dont know when to close the agreement. I dont think Slavery still exists in India. The term Slavery we use when there is human trade, people are sold. But we see Sex Slavery in many countries including India.
it has nothing to do with illiteracy and everything to do with a corrupt government that accepts bribery from these powefrul and cruel landlords. the tenants can't escape slavery as the government supports it.
I have been really distracted, to say the least. How do you believe it's even possible that everything got this bad? Thank you for this post, I found it to be very encouraging. Some really interesting info here.
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I dont know how these cnn persons gets fake news which even indian TV channels and indians dont know...it is true that slavery existed in india in this form as printed here but it long time back everybody in india knew it under the british rule...but maximun 20-25 years after independence these kinds of things were completely abolished...and these things become a common story of bollywood films for a long period of time and these cnn people from america must have watched the movie and get an aberant idea....cnn shud be responsible in printing such fake news...no person will say such a thing as the supervisor says to the cnn group like'"They have to work and repay the loan. They keep working," said Arun Singh, their supervisor. "We have an agreement." if any body says these things he shud have landed in jail...unless he is paid to make story and unless it is a paid newsjust to fill coloums in newspaper ...if it have been true ,i challenge that cnn group to go to police and report this matter they will truly be justified....
yes, if they report this to local authorities, then local news would definitely show them too. bonded labour do still exits but i doubt about bounded for generations
It is the same in Maldives where Indians, Sri Lankans, Bangladeshis and Philippinos who work in the hospitality and other industries here under the guest worker program are required to work long hours with no days off. Employers house them in dormitory accommodations without privacy, provide them with limited amounts of food, with-hold their passports and deny them opportunity to leave before their contracts end. Did I also mention that the pay was minimal – for example, resorts here charge more than USD 400 per night per room and pay workers less than USD 200 per month for 30 days work at 12 hours per day.
Slavery is every where,in Ghana,childrence of school going age are in the mining centres suffering to survive.
India is developing nation. like other developing nation she have probplems but I am sure as we are fighting against every evil we will remove these kind of slavery as well.
@Kumar You are just sick person, nothing it has to do with religion. Hinduism is the greatest religion in the world. we don't get affected by hate comments
Hinduism greatest religion in the world? How many liters of cow's urine you drank today?
And I think u drink lot of washed milk from brahmin's lingam
Before we can get rid of bonded labor, we should terminate extrmists and bigots like you. The world will be a better place if people like you commit euthanesia soon very soon.
A deadly demonic nation. Idol worship teaches these scum nothing. Hinduism itself is to blame.
you are a terrible christian. Christian should be washed out of bigots like you. Kill your self and we will get a free ride to hell. Jesus will never save you and I know because I am a Christian.
I can't believe you just said that. There is NO human being upon the earth that is scum.
The other side of the coin, well done India, the largest democracy
This is not due to poor education or awareness or due to India being a developing nation.
There are some people who are simply evil in India. They will maim children to make Rs. 10 per day in begging versus Rs. 8 per day for a normal healthy beggar. They will rape at the slightest chance of not getting caught. They will pelt stones as no one can be arrested. It is about having a sick mindset without honour, self-discipline and duty. There is anarchy in India whether you and I like it.
This is NOT fake news. This is something the middle class and richer Indians dont like to hear or read about. However, it is true and I have seen it personally. Come and live in a village in India, you will see the reality. 99% of Indians are corrupt or corruptible. The price has to be right.
Sometimes, I feel it could be genetic and perhaps warrants some sort of DNA analysis.
You are very true
@Kumar you are from India but still abusing her. I want to say everyone here in this form that these kind of people will not even let off their mother and father, they surely in real life abuse their mother and father. Just waste..
iIts not Indians doing slavery, its the Pakistani ISI and their terror infrastructure that is spreading slavery in India.
How much weak is Indian intelligence and their security, and how much influential is ISI, Great.
Dear Friends, It is bad to blame each other or another religion for what is happening around the world. When i heard this report i thought CNN is doing a good thing and i could be part of that. India still fighting hard it hard to take care of her people. Being an Indian and a Hindu it is our responsibility to stop all these things. From the part of the Government they are trying to stop these things and changes are happening. India is not the same county of 20years back, but still more things have to be done. We didn't have anything left after the independence because we were looted by west for many hundred years. Each country has its own problem. Weather it is west or middle east or Africa. By this Forum let us tell the greedy people of our planet that the poor and the helpless have to be cared. For that let us all play our part irrespective of our color for this goof cause.
Geez, that is unbelievable. I truly think this write up needs much more consideration. I will probably be again to read much more, thanks for that info. Well written!
how can you be so sure thet Kumar is Indian, he could be paki using Indian name, these pakis everywhere defaming our religion, our nation. these scums will meet their end very soon.. suicidal.
Freedom only comes through revolution. The Americans revolted to secure freedom from tyranny. Chinese revolted against the rich Empire and war lords that made them slaves. Indians need to throw off their corrupt leaders and caste system for a better life.
NO. The best and only way is to decimate and terminate people like you Kumar. You are shit. Why dont you go and eat your own shit till you kill yourself and go to hell.
1. Slavery and bounded labour in India is a reality, there are scores(most often poor and women) who are exposed to such environments. But, this number is coming down, slavery was a bigger problem 30years back than it is now. The way to fight it is not to directly eradicate the culprit and free the enslaved, but through education reforms and bringing masses into mainstream economy. India has done lot in the past 20 years to fight anti-seculars and feudals, though it may take another 20 for it to be comparable to western nations.
2. I live in Europe, and post 9/11 christian-muslim internal conflict in these countries is in-comparable. Secularism in India these days would make most modern western societies bite off their fingers.
3. Americans are seen as liberators of human rights only in America, the rest of world disagrees. The double standards held by americans are quite obvious in conflicts in AfPak and IRaq. Where well educated generals call of artillary fire and drone attacks on villages killing scores at a time. So this article is guided towards American audiences. Indians would quite disagree to such disparity and the Arabs-Paks and Chinese would openly spit upon the Americans for mere display of such disparity.
This breaks my heart so much. I am from the Philippines where there are a lot of poor people. And I am not rich, my parents are not but we have never in our entire life experience slavery. What can I do to help?
Ajay I agree.. Kumar might be paki but we know that traitors are not less in numbers in India
We shold not blame this on Govt or country, India is soo Big its tough for Govt to control , hence we all should contribute making NGO type groups or reporting it to various sources who can help them.
Hinduism is great religion. All problems of world can be removed if principal of hinduism is fallowed
Its not about Secularism- Its about Humaism, We have Organisation fightings for Animals, but we hardly see some one fighting for humans, rather we all tend to fight with each other in the name of GOD or relegion
if that was true, about Hinduism being such a great religion there would be no problems like this in India. and these problems do exist despite the denials of many. here's a thought, Naveen: why not fix your own country, you know, INDIA first before telling other people in other countries what to do and what religion to follow?
The author of this article has got payment obviously but when asked by Singh she did not pay: 'to no avail". But I suppose he deserved a gift if no payment for "his charge"
This is the system that the dalai lama is also championing. The priests/monks sit at the top of the pile, while the peasants / serfs sit right at the bottom.
So What is New....America had Black and Chinese slaves working for them and build all the subway tunnels to plantations for free. Fast forward, some countries still have it.....till they will turn the tide and move to more developed economies with cheap credit where even a commom may can improve their way of life.
Not one civilization has been able to maintain superiority over time....Today it is America tomorrow it will be someone else.
Wonder why it is always bad when other countries do it.
American and most western countries always take pleasure in pointing out the bad in outer countries while doing a very good job of hiding their flaws (Black Slavery, Voilence using Nukes, Poverty in most mid west states and Indian Reservations).
American live in gated colonies, using plastic cards in malls thinking that they are the most complete people on the planet.
In a few decades, you will see a generation arise....like in Middle East where young people are waking up and saying "why not me"....I see American kids screwing around and snuffing coke...why should they have all the fun.
So dont get too happy because America is changing too (Demographics and Diversiy) and world will soon catch up and everyone would and will have the same toys or more than you.
In America things changed. The great grandchildren of the 'enslaved' Chinese are now businessmen, doctors and lawyers in the United States. The great grandchildren of the enslaved blacks are now welfare mothers, drug dealers, homeless street people. See, things got better here.
In America things changed. The great grandchildren of the 'enslaved' Chinese are now businessmen, doctors and lawyers in the United States. The great grandchildren of the enslaved blacks are now welfare mothers, drug dealers, homeless street people. See, things got better here".
Howard, what a bigoted ignoramus you are. The great grandchildren of enslaved Blacks are also DOCTORSM LAWYERS, SCIENTISTS, and ENGINEERS. I sensed you are Chinese. All the Chinese human smugglers, drug traffickers, money launderers, drug addicts, gamblers, pimps, gang-bangers. You conveniently left them out. There is no group in America that does not have its own dirt bag. Chinese are no exception. What a moron you portray yourself to be.
God bless America because she gives you the opportunity to be somebody if you have a plan and the determination to see your plans come to fruition. In China on the other hand, so-called researchers are plagiarizing, crooked companies are infringing on the inventions of US scientists; people are paid slave labor. Howard, why don't you pack your myopic tail and go back to your cave you came from. American does not need people like you. I repeat, AMERICA gives you the freedom to choose. China, India, and the rest of the third world don't give you that freedom to be somebody.
Read before you spew your venom next time. It is people like you that propagate the lie that Chinese, and other Asians are smarter than TYPICAL Americans. That is a lie. You guys study and no play. If every group studies the way you people do, your lies would be put to rest COWHARD.
AMEN HOWARD!!!! That is so true!!
Proud India, worlds largest democracy, and best educated. Turning a blind eye to what is happening is as as bad as condoning it.
Nothing wrong in having pride......Americans have great pride too in Nuking Japan, Using Black and Chinese slaves, having the most stock pile of weapons while having a problem while other have it...
So why it it wrong when other do it.
See the pictures of decript Indian Reservations and rundown down towns in 'fly over' states and you can also have the same pride.
Someday and eventually over time, the slaves and migrant laboureres will become business men and take over the migrants/ pilgrims who wiped over the natives. So the cycle will repeat.
That is the way of life.....he who wins – will write the history, only to fall victum to the next victor!
I have read a few great things here. Although I have shared this blog with many people, it seems to me like very few people are able to understand how important this really is. A huge thank you for your article! You need to write a lot more thank this, that's all I need to say. I just shared this on my website and 97 of my friends have already shared it. I like this so much!
Thankfully, when Barack Hussein Obama becomes President of the United States, this human slavery will end. Obama loves the children of the world (or is that Jesus, I get the two of them confused). Obama will free you all my children, he will pay your mortgage and put free gas in your car. All will be well.
If their fellow citizens of India, do not care enough to try and enforce laws already in place, why should the rest of the world?
mayb because you are part of the world, and being that you are a human being able to possess compassion...you would b able to understand that it is part of your path/destiny to not stand by while injustice goes on...for even though someone may live their life half way across the planet you should still extend your hand to your fellow man in time of need...too many people have forgotten who they are and what they are supposed to b
You really deserve a big hug right now. It's really great to see you still creating great articles still. Thanks for writing this awesome page. You seem to really understand who you really are as a human. It requires some bold action on your part.
It would be so great to put those slavers in jail for life. The article shows you so many things about the human condition, but ultimately it shows you how intimidation –physical violence- is used with absolute impunity, in countries where there are so many horrors that they seem to not care or are exhausted, they have no empathy left.
One thing that many readers ignore –they are not to blame for it- is that when people is deprived from a good nutrition in the early childhood, the brain doesn't develop to the fullest, therefore dragging FOR LIFE a tare that subjects them to all kind of scams and even creates the stereotype of them being naturally unable to perform. They become mentally weak and they are overpowered with even the simplest mental challenge. And faster than light, the vultures who notice that awful reality take advantage. And that happens always where poverty resides everywhere in the world.
Such situations are tragic for the individuals and for society at large. Slavery has indeed been outlawed in India and elsewhere, but it has not been eliminated. its elimination requires legal enforcement and public involvement.For instance not purchasing bricks manufactured by slave labour and even small firms can do this. It is not limited to the poor india– sex trade , clandestine workshops for illegal immigrants in europe, north america and asia.
However this is not a reason to forego condemning vociferously any such situation that we come across and finding a way to eliminate it....
But how, electoral pressure where it happens and more big stories on it to awaken our sleepy and lethargic moral idignation. What NGOs are involved in it? Can we pay off their debts and free them???
This is quite a myopic view i must say. It seems the respected journalist visited few places and generalized the observations. If there are 100 brick kilns in India, only 1-2% may be working on slavery model. Rest – Workers are treated like equal human beings and paid wages on time and in line with market rates. Urge the reporter to visit more such places and see well workers get treated.
Hi Nitin wake up. You cant see the truth because I believe you are from Hindu religion, which is based on injustice, which teaches the lower cast people to be treated worser than animals
very v sad indeed, where are the law enforcement units and government authorities. Are they sleeping?
Yes they must have their money and litterally sleeping (with it)
This sure is slavery, but it's not institutional slavery nor a legalised form like those we see in Arab countries or in historical USA/Europe. Since these slaveries are isolated incidents of corrupt individuals or mafia's in the society, it's not so easy to eradicate. Nor can you blame any government, except the law enforcement agencies. This type of problem exists in every nation today, and more in the poverty stricken segments of society. Nobody has a right to use this as a way to smear a nation's image, for every nation has serious problems of some sort. Do you really think that a new India is being built solely by these slaves? You deny credit to millions of people who worked hard on their own initiatives.
Its very sad I have personally seen such happening during my childhood in UP.Rural people are like honest to core and fall to such traps due to illiteracy.
I think when we have schemes like Aganwadi & Narega from central Govt. its just the matter of these people to be rescued by Local panchayat/Police help and get themselves involved into central schemes.
Should be task at local panchayat/gram/block level like BDOs & Gram pradhan to assist.
But I feel that most of brick workers are from other states with no local support and they are mostly get trapped with not much cash to return back to their native areas.
For a Brick Klins I feel Labour law enforcement can take this case specially for this industry like its been done for other cottage industries.
Not sure how remote this area is where issue is reported but in all UP is better reachable/accessible where NGOs can help.
I think you are right as fas as central govt schems are concerned, but the hw much of these schemes realy working on the ground is debatable. Under NAREGA trees were planted and never cared for, crores of money used for plantation has gone in dust. Toilets were built in villages without any sewer or passage, now used to store cow dung. Roads made but never cared for and now its tough to even walk on them. There is now emploment guaruntee scheme by Govt of Inida which these people will quailfy to be benefited under, but they do not have access to it coz, you rightly pointed out they are likely from different state and on top of that unaware of such scheme. The Gampanchayat officials are now new breed of high income no job group in India. Withing five years of their tenure, they become millionaire and there is high probability that they win election for next couple of terms with the help of illgotten money. Its clear and in open and all and sundry seems to be aware of these things at the very ground where it happens, but every one is happy and no one complains, coz no one listen and also coz the complainant may loose his/her life.
My friend Laws are plenty but execution is absent, where it executed, the corrupt officials and clerks have made it lame and of no use to common people.
Behind the farce of shining and thiving India lies a darl picture which no one wants to look at, coz thats not pleasent to the psyche of eponantially growing middle class. I hope some day things will changes and the so called and utopian ramrajya (As Mahatma Gandhi had dreamed, but no one cares about that in modern India) will be restored where all will live in plenty and in peace and harmony......
The problem with India, is the Cast System created by a racist religion. The Hindu religion is based on injustice.
If you can understand Sanskrit language and read the ancient religious texts of the Vedic religion, you can understand how this religion is in deep shit.
I am surprised that Sara Sidnar chose to ignore the silver light of this dark cloud, the people and non govt Hindu organizations who relentlessly are fighting this menace for last 25 years.
and here we see a crowd of intelligence blaming this blot on Hinduism, a religion that gave birth to yoga and has been embraced by millions in western world.
Let us all remember the fundamentals of our world's religions. Lets not stamp on our people in order to make money, but give them a shoulder to lean on. In return, you gain a person's respect and gratitude. Which will take you further in life one way or another.
And your Muslim religion is the best in the world, Right? Why dont you go blow yourself up, so you can get your 20 virgins and all the other crap you deserve.
As long as the cast system continues in India this type of thing will continue! Only India itself can stop this, which is unlikely to happen, especially when they have extremely wealthy people buying low-cost airlines instead of building a hospital or school.
You remind me of my roomate back in New Jersey. After reading at a number of the write ups on your blog, I seriously like your way of blogging. These write ups really force me to think more about how I see the world. When you put good people with a common goal in a room together, they are sure to talk about common interests.
whether you are a Pakistani, or whatever you may be, I admire you for your will to speak the truth. What kind of religion would justify the enslavement of any group? Which God justifies oppression?
India cannot progress with a society where half of the population is free and half is enslaved. Corruption, on the other hand is pervasive in almost every country in the world. There is no other country in the world like India wherein the caste you are born into determines your destiny. A person born into a poor family in Nigeria, Colombia, Venezuela, or just name the country can become someboby if he/she is very bright. In India, if you are born into a socalled Dalit family, regardless of the fact that you might have a near genius intelligence, you are doomed. This is wrong.
KUMAR, YOU HAVE A CONSCIENCE and that mean a lot to humanity. Those who sondemn you are sans conscience.
the chief minister of india's biggest state is a dalit!
Another Awesome Article by Sara Sidner on India. I am glad its not the monkeys this time. What CNN is doing is the right thing. I guess before we get too high on India we should read other articles from other countries in this section about exploitation of people in different ways much more malevolent than asking Indian people to work off their debt. Please dont make this about country. Make this about humanity!
The title makes no sense. If you are working to pay off a debt, then how is it slavery?
Any time a human being is forced to serve another's will without any choice in the matter and without deriving any personal benefit beyond being kept alive to serve the master – that is slavery. If you had a lick of common sense, you would know this.
Michael its you that lack common sense and not Cameron because these people are working free to pay off the debts that their forefathers contracted, they are not shunning away from their responsibilities, in India there are no laws that protect people against bankruptcy or debts, so once again I insist dont act smart because you are ignorant concerning laws of other countries.
Are there any organizations to help people come out of this kind of closed box lives. There are so many welfare organization targeting a specific style of help. Do anyone know that aims at eradicating slavery (esp like this)?
Free The Slaves in the US, through MSEMVS in India works to free these types of slaves. We (Made By Survivors) provide alternative jobs and sponsor schools in these communities.
This is only different from the USA in degree, not in essence.
Here in the USA, families are dispossessed and hounded for debt even after the death of the debtor. Recently a Texas man died halfway through his apartment lease; the landlord went after the widow for the rest of the rent! This is legal in the USA! Try dying with credit card debt or with a mortgage – they will come after your grieving family. Of course you can pay extra to keep them away – an easy out for the rich, but more than many Americans can afford.
If slavery is working for others' profit without any hope of improvement for oneself or one's family, then slavery is thriving in the USA thanks to corporate greed and Congressional corruption.
I think there is lot better things going on in India. Why don't you talk about that,why you make that not headlines. I think this is not headline news. Crap and Bias.
Everything in life does not have to be headline news. This is an informative article helping a reader recognize that there are grave injustices occurring right on the radar screen of so called secular democracies. Try bonded slavery in America for a day and see how many reporters line up to cover it. It is our prerogative as human beings to desire and seek that our fellow man is served justice as much as possible. Do you really want to just stick your head in the sand and say 'oh never, such things never happen!'
slavery is a social injustice that has been there since the beginning of time. It can only be erradicated when the government of such country has the law with an iron grip
Modern day original sin? Christians believe the same thing.
How many times have you heard neo-cons scream that the poor deserve to be poor because they choose poverty; that the rich deserve to be rich because their parents were rich; that helping the former at the expense of the latter is evil, is communism, is unfair and anti-productive? How is this different from a caste system, other than in the words used?
indian government is the same as ghadaffi government
both have to go to HELL.
At least we can protest in America without getting our head blown off.
I love the way in recent years CNN, Yahoo, AP and all of the other collectivist organizations try to report news from every hovel in the world as if it's happening next door. Let indians take care of India. The US is a sovereign nation with its own set of problems. And while you're at it, keep your hands out of my wallet.
"...The US is a sovereign nation..." REALLY??? You have not stayed informed about the international laws inherent to globalization and the degradation of all countries' sovereignty. This is now the 21st century; you are in for quite a rude awakening.
Cool it my Indian children. Why are you getting so hot an bothered. As long as you belong to one of our higher casts you are OK. These insects that live our villages deserve to work their generations off, this is the punishment they deserve to have been born in a lower caste. Tough luck for these scum. Come now lets get back to the phones in our call centers!
Get out troll!
@Abhishek If you don't call me 'Mahatma' you will be cursed and born a lower caste laborers like these insects in your next life. Now get Shek your behind back to your cubicle and get back to the phones Abhishek... Shek that headset!
For more on India, check out The Bond Project at http://www.thebondproject.net
Thank you CNN for providing the Governor of Wisconsin and his ilk with more ideas.
This is how America will compete in the global workforce... NOT!
I've always said that true free trade agreements need to include legal and human rights protection guarantees that those in the devloped world enjoy. Americans were once in similar conditions in the late 1800's and early 1900's and we fought for the basic human rights of workers. Will India or China have a Triangle Shirtwaist fire??? Have they already and only cover it up to keep American firms involved in their countries? The ethical playing field needs to be level as well as the economic. Whether a person is a slave like in this story or a wage slave to some Chinese company building iPods, it needs to end! Today!
This happens with Indian IT companies. They force employees to sign 3 to 6 month bonds. Incase you try and leave before giving notice period of 6 months they will cut your salary, retirement benefits, gratuity etc. They send court notice. Tata Consultancy Services forces employees to sign 3-6 months bonds and incase the employee leaves with a notice of less than 6 months then they send court notices to employees, holds their salary, holds their retirement benefits.
This is also a modern day slavery for white collar jobs.
Is there somewhere we can send donations to help alleviate teh conditions of these people Have been really touched by this article and the conditions of the people. Good project CNN.
"In India they are known as bonded laborers, bound to those who gave them or their forefathers an advance or a loan. Human rights advocates call them modern day slaves."
"In the USA they are known as bonded laborers, sitting in their cubicles, bound to the government that gave them or their forefathers quantitative easing and the resultant debt burden. Human rights advocates call them modern day slaves."
Well it does not seem to be slavery if you git something in return.
Well then, according to your thinking, Africans were never slaves in the USA. They got some food and a place to sleep at night, in exchange for their labor. Try, just try, to use those brain cells, just a li'l bit.
Be advised, there are multiple poeple posting under the name Ken.
I have made a lot of comments on this series questioning the stats of alleged trafficking into the US because I canont believe that much goes on under our noses. But I did not make this original comment. And I have questioned what they call "trafficking" because the federal definition of trafficking is very broad and does not require the elements of force or restraint. Under our own definition, a woman can willfully enter prostitution, get paid, be able to leave anytime, and it is still called "trafficking". That is a flawed definition.
I will start using "KenX" as my name.
I veried with some of my Indian friends in the office that this is unfortunatley true in India, but it is "much less common than 15-20 years ago." They said it still exists in some rural areas. It appears to be a deminishing problem....and good.
We need to boycott India's goods and services until this is stopped. India has major human rights problems and the US is not stopping it. We are fighting China for these issues but we should also be fighting this in India or boycott India companies.
slavery in india is not because of the govt but because of poverty!
TO: anng
"We are fighting China for these issues..."
Can you tell us HOW "we are fighting China for these issues"???
That is a very good tip especially to those fresh to the blogosphere. I am going to follow you on LinkedIn. Guess I will just book mark this posts.
All these slavery and issues are due to the current ruling party. CNN should also publish the corruption thats goind on in india for last many years since these aer multi billion dollar scams. If all those money would have be controlled then these people might have had a better life. Sonia Gandhi and Congress party are responsible for these. But unfortunately cnn will not put anything on headlines as the media support is the one which still keeps her and Congress alive.
Thanks CNN for such articles bringing to attention some of the key points which are left in the big picture of rising India. There is big social divide and it may increase day by day. Government does have decent welfare programme and laws. But due to lack of awareness and corruption, these benefits does not reach the top to down completely and not even say 20% in some cases. We need such international awareness to bring this burning issues for the academia and industry and middle class. Thanks to the reporting team for their initiatives
About how many blog posts do you usually write in a week? Have they attempted to connect with other content creators that have an understanding about this stuff? Just what I was looking for. To be honest, when I first came to this site last month I was just trying to find something entertaining to read but your website has been super useful and insightful. You seem to really understand who you really are deep down. You really solved my problem.
I have 18,000 dollars credit card debt and will be working as a greeter at Wal-mart until I'm free again.
exactly...here in US also people are slaves of these big banks and credit/mortgage companies. Incase you have credit or mortgage and you default to pay your life is ruined. You are charged 40-50% interest which you are not able to pay either. Your credit rating is scr$wed..so you cannot take further credit.. and here you go..without knowing you are in a credit trap equivalent of current day slavery.. companies will see your credit rating and standing before giving you a job, credit, loan etc.. so you cannot get anything.. atleast in India these people are giving jobs and an oppertunity to pay off the loan..
Welcome to Tea Party America, circa 2050! You too can be a debt slave to keep your betters in Medicare scooters!
Why are you guys freaking out. These morons signed up for it when they were born in the lower caste. I escaped from South Africa because they were confusing me for the blacks and treating me like the slaves. Obviously my size didn't allow me to take any hardships I ran back to then British controlled India and reminded everyone that we were all created equal except for these lower caste laborers. Anyway... now back to phone selling more credit cards to the US public.
Mohandas Gandhi
Why are you guys freaking out. These morons signed up for it when they were born in the lower caste. I escaped from South Africa because they were confusing me for the blacks and treating me like the slaves. Obviously my size didn't allow me to take any hardships I ran back to then British controlled India and reminded everyone that we were all created equal except for these lower caste laborers. Anyway... now back to phone selling more credit cards to the US public.
Did you read what you wrote? Oh in SA they treated you bad. You escaped and now you are justifying the same treatment towrads others who look just like you? No one choses where, when, and to whom to be born. Thus, to maltreat anyone based on these factors is despicable. Now I will amke sure no one buys your card because you are an inhuman scoundrel
I seriously appreciate individuals like you! Babies and small animals probably love you. I'm genuinely thankful. You clearly know what you are talking about. Remarkable!
This blog has brought some peace of mind. What's the secret formula for creating success? I'm going to name my son after you. No real complaints on this end, this is simply a great article. Right here is some really valuable info. I truly feel your website needs a lot more attention.
I don't understand how people can be so cruel, so mean, so selfish. Are they not touched by the perils of those they enslave? Is wealth really worth causing such massive human suffering?
I've tried both of those and I really can't decide which one I like best. I'm really thankful for what you are doing here! I first discovered your site yesterday and I thought it was very interesting so I'm happy you are covering this. Wow, that sure is a clever way of wording it.
Sad state of human affairs. I also found slavery in asian countries like philippines and thailand. This is why we outsource our work to these countries. Cheap and free labor.
BTW, don't u get it in a positive way ? – There is this 3rd world country where people have ETHICS to pay off their parents debt... not just run away with monies or file Chapter 11. This is what US needs. If my dad took debt to run the family and couldn't repay... I enjoyed with that money, Why would I not be obliged or ethical enough to pay off that debt and show some good conduct ? US needs to go this route... No write offs guys... WAKE UP !!!
This is an awesome thought. There's a thing called ethics!
well who ever is the reporter is a news maker , not a journalist. Yes i agree there are poor people in India working for Paltry sum of less than a dollar a day, but slavery is long gone.
In Fact the state of Uttar Pradesh which is in News is ruled by govt made by poor people and their leader
was well known was from a lower position in the society. So please dont get emotional by the news.
I really appreciate what you are doing. You have to make sure your content is easy to read and understand. I'll be sure to bookmark your blog because I will definitely come back someday. I even found myself shocked and dismayed by how people reacted. I can not stop myself from reading your blog. Good blog, totally what I needed.
My family works a lot with social issues in India and Ill provide some insight. This is a terrible problem in India. Indians should not be ashamed or be defensive. The fact is, as great as the country is – these are horrible social and working conditions. India has the advantage where courts and the constitution protect workers and each year workers organize and get more rights. But corruption and power make it an uphill battle.
The good news is that NGO's and Charities are dramatically improving the situation. Let me give an example of woman empowerment. Most successfull NGO's dont try to turn a village woman into a urban womnan. We know whats possible. Help out for abuse victims but dont try to change the world. Instead focus on education. My aunt just completed a 30 year project where all she did was provide reading and writing skills to girls for 2 hours a day in the 70's. No school, still worked all the time in the fields. But that little education was enough to get a few of the moms to want to send their daughters to go to school. After 4 generations – without any revolution or fighting or drastic change almost all girls go to a full school day until 15. Many leave the village and pump money back in. Fertility in the village has gone from 8 to around 3. This story is being replicated all over India.
So the story you read above is horrible, its real, and people should try to help – but in the background litteracy has skyrocketed for children and the overall extreme poverty rate for India continues to go down fast evey year. Unfortunately for western media a drop from 40% to 10% still means a millions of horror stories and photographs. But the vast majority of Indians are working towards the goal of eliminating this kind of situation. It might take another 30 years but at least the metrics show every year is better. Thats the trend of a future superpower.
I am directing Manmohanji to investigate. Qatrochi will pay off debt in cash at no cost to Govt of India. Bharat mata ki je
We all have been hearign how India's economy is growing fast, but most of us know very little at what cost and expense the development is coming. It is the same story in China; they don't have any regard for human being – all they care is about their fast profit. We should boycot products from India until they stop this barbaric act.
I have lived in India for 30 years. I have lived in the USA for the same amount of time. Slavery is in both countries. The one in India is open while the one in the US is veiled. It is all has to do with selfishness. The moment some one becomes unselfish he reaches Holy state. Thanks CNN for bringing this story out of the closet into the open.
I truly appreciate your work and I'm looking forward to the next post. I am really beyond amazed, I have to admit. Got drawn into your website for almost the last hour. What a highly descriptive and well written post. This writing style reminds me of my aunt back in Indiana.
You can dislike the way Doc Savage said it, but there is an absolute truth to this. One of the biggest problems with poverty and welfare is the poorest and least capable are the ones that have the most children. 7 children when you have to work to pay off debt (not that anyone should be bonded by others debt) is not smart, literate or not. The same goes for people in this country that are too poor to pay for their own health care(medicaid) or food (food stamp recipients) and yet many have 5+ children. You don't need to read to know how children are born, and you dont need to be highly educated to know about condoms. Is there issues with opportunity, of course there is, but that doesn't take the responsibility of personal decisions out of your hands just b/c you aren't in the best situation. Those of you that don't realize over population is the biggest threat to economic sustainability as well as the environment are living in a dream world.
You load Sixteen Tons, whaddaya get?
Another day older, and deeper in debt.
Saint Peter, don't you call me, 'cause I can't go;
I owe my soul to the Company Store....
A lesson for America-- See what debt leads to.
To all photographers, Rahul Dev will be there tomorrow morning with checks to free these bonded laborers of story. Prianka plans to be there also with little Pappuji.
Poverty is the worst affliction suffered by mankind.Poverty is the mother of invention or crime (or exploitation).Bonded labour is prevalent on the entire Indian sub-continent and can only be eradicated by law-enforcement agencies and rehabilitated by the government.The extreme greed and hatred prevalent generally throughout the world (and its resulting victims)cannot be remedied by 'LEADERS'because of their 'vested interests'.The wind of change is blowing thruogh the world and it will strengthen People's Power.The world has seen some miraculous changes in the past i.e.the end of apartheid in South Africa,fall of the USSR and re-unification of Germany.Humanity is slowly sensing its divine aspect which is exposing everything for what it truly is-'doodh ka dhood paani ka paani'.The world has now moved on.The structures of the past (political.social,economic,religious,etc.)are inadequate to deliver freedom,justice,dignityand equalty that the world needs.The present structures/systems are out of date because they only reward competition (not competence)greed,ruthlessness,exploitation and inhibits sharing,justice,freedom and realising that all humanity is one.
While the depiction of story is a true reflection of the happenings in india but the motives of story line at this point of time, when the whole arab is burning, is definitely signifies dirty design expecting similar riots as happened in arabs. How this suddenly becomes a headline story for CNN?
UP & BIHAR ARE A SHAME TO INDIA, THESE TWO STATES CONTRIBUTE NEARLY 30% TO INDIA'S POVERTY.People of these two states should bury their head in sand! YOU are a shame to india, it's because of these two states people like to make movies like slumdog millionaire!
You idiot. India is ashamed of having people like you.
You must be visiting the wrong places... Hope you were not......
This is atrocious! I am sure other 3rd world countries employ the same tactics, but India brings in billions of dollars from technology. The are supposed to be emerging economically. How can the government stand by silently slavery is so obvious in this case. This is disgusting to see this in 2011! the media should expose this until people's stomachs turn so that we are finally forced to change this!
Sadly, this is exactly the position that the US government is putting Americans in with its maniacal debt spending. Already there is something like $40,000 in debt for each US citizen. Someday we will have to pay that back. My daughter and her children will be in hock virtually their entire lives. They may not be making 1,000 bricks every day, but the fruits of their labor will nevertheless be forfeit to the bloated idol that is government spending.
Yep, like I said earlier, "get used to it America, this is our grandkids paying off our debt".
Dear CNN crew: if you are so committed to fighting slavery, why didn't you just locate these scam artists and hire the local villagers to lynch their worthless @zzes? I'm sure a couple of Benjamins could have financed a pretty awesome lesson in poetic justice.
If you want to fight slavery, get serious. The government obviously isn't going to do a doggoned thing. You want change? Then fight for it. Criminals do not respect anything other than force. So, bring the pain. Stories and tears and prayers will not get ou anything. A bullet through the head of a criminal is how you end a criminal's career, end of story. We did not get our freedoms through nay other means than violence, despite what he bleeding hearts like to delude themselves into believing.
So let's end slavery...start killing the slave masters and their enablers.
But America is so evil, America is responsible for so much evil and all the white people are racists. If only America could be more like India, and China, and N Korea where human rights are so much better. I am so glad the UN condems the USA for their obvious evil and human rights violations. I am so Glad we have a President like Obama who recognizes the importance of India and the need for this type of economic growth. Pretty soon he will adopt these cutting edge economic activities in America!
May I have your attention please. New Rules. You all must stop making fun of India at once. The Indians on this forum are thoroughly embarrassed as the rest of the world has seen what their largest democracy is based upon. Our economy would be growing at 10% if we had free labor here in the US. So again, its requested stop bad mouthing India.
Just wanted to say fantastic blogs! I just shared this on my page and 49 of my friends have already seen it. The battle is so big that no one business can be expected to tackle it by themselves. I am really impressed, I must say.
We have slavery in America today, it's called H1B and illegal immigrants. An H1B comes in and cannot change jobs because they are sponsored. An illegal gets a job and can't complain because they will be deported. When are we going to fix our own issues?
Am I supposed to feel bad because one Indian is exploiting another? Any change that comes will have to come from within. Maybe they need to start another revolution.
Dear CNN,
Thank you for the hard work in bringing these stories to our attention.
Please remove the comment section of these articles, because it is absolutely offensive, demeaning, ignorant and enraging. If there was ever a time when we don't earn our right to free speech, now would be a good time.
Thank you.
@ Muna.. we call it free speech in the US and we don't try to muffle comments and opinions because this is a free country. We at CNN don't care if half of your family is stuck in that slave camp. Deal with your own government to shut down these sweat shops before you ask Americans to shut their mouths.
If you're in the US. You are welcome!
Excellent reply Moderator!
Thank you.
Slowly, over time, this will happen in the U.S. Big business and banks in America are already trying to find ways to manipulate its clients. They lobby hard to make laws more and more complex to the point the average America cannot understand them any longer. The elite politicians always seem to want to cut funding to education first. In some schools they no longer teach handwriting, claiming it is obsolete in the computer age. This in being done at some of the poorest schools where kids don't even have access to computers. Be aware and always teach you're kids the things they need to know in today's world.
You are such a moron. The big banks can't do a thing to "force" me to buy an ipod or sharp TV (their clients).
Your bamboozling president and union thugs, however, can force me to pay my taxes on my car, house, income and indeed savings to enrich themselves.
With idiots like you voting for people like Obama this country is finished. Too many at the public teat.
Nothing new. It has been going on for centuries now in India. Change will come only when;
a) As a person you can file bankrupcy in a court of Law across India if debt can not be paid back
b) Law provides all protection from lenders to borrowers – US style system for debt protection.
These things have to start now and government has to work in making them as law.
Kumar U R 1 Confused ignorant beased on Class System in America. Pathetic American do not make a shoes anymore. They all come from India and many other countries. So why do not you stop wearng those shoes and name one shoe maker in america who became CEO.
Sara Sidner has written this article. I am not surprised. For some reason she just hates India. Any article that shows India in poor light in CNN is written by Sara Sidner.
This is the global economy. Keep slaving. Things will get better.
The CNN FREEDOM PROJECT My Ass. Stop worring about other countries. Start focusing on our own country here. CNN is slave of BARRY ODUMBAMA.
@Peter why don't you go to India with your highly qualified redneck Milf leader of GOPalin.
Thanks to God that the Indians know how to fullfill their obligations, although those obligations were contracted by their forefathers, the majority of Indians are responsible people, sentimental, emotional, unlike other people in other countries, where people shun their responsibilities, its true in Asia and Africa exists slavery, BUT in western countries exists murders and assassinations, almost every second innocent people are killed especially in the United States.
Check out "4 the 1" they help buy women out of slavery. Buy only FAIR TRADE!
Wonder how many of them are IT workers taking outsourced American Jobs?
You always know just what to say. After looking over a number of the blogs posts on your blog, I seriously like your way of blogging. Oh my goodness! A good article.
Unfortunately this is India being an Indian i know how corrupt my country is ....Over the years Govt has failed to take care of Rural India where they still can't make two meals a day and has to rely on corrupt babus who employ them and exploit them. The corruption is visible every where in Govt offices where unless you give bribe nobody would even look at you doesn't matter if you are a senior citizen or a disable person there is absolutely no mercy.I have my parents living in that corrupt country and am always worried about them. Unfortunately there is a big social divide amongst the society where rich are getting richer and poor are getting poorer in India and current Congress Govt who is lead by an Italian is doing nothing to prevent it. I guess the Indians need to go the Libyan way and throw them out of power...
I bet 99% of the people who are giving free advices here will forget about the whole issue by tomorrow morning and will never think about it until they read something like this again. Rather than thinking of what others should do, think what you can do to others. Being a citizen of India, I would say that India is not really as bad as it is potrayed in this article. There are exceptions everywhere, in developed countries there's drug/gun problems, does that mean than whole nation is like that? Most of the people who sit in front of computers, who have lavish life style, don't have any right to comment on people who are devastated by some poor economic conditions.
Indentured Slavery at its best! Even in the 21st century!
India's slavery problem will be ours in the US if we don't tackle government debt. Our children will pay confiscatory taxes so high that Congress or the courts will have to repeal the 13th amendment to the Constitution. Thye'll be slaves to future governments.
Get used to it, America. This is our grandkids working to pay off our debt.
Its always a feel good factor to focus on another country's problems . Just a few days ago I read a CNN article about how to bring back US's influence on the world .
This is the answer- By publishing negative aspects and problems of another country and brainwashing Americans that they still are better than others.
For the record, India is doing extremely well in areas such as science, technology and innovation. No American will talk about it because they dont want to digest the fact that a "third world country" is making tremendous progress and is on its way to becoming a major superpower.
I hope you also publish an article about the ghetto lives of some of the so called big cities of America and how much money the USA owes its people and the rest of the world.
Atleast this should embarass the Indian and the state governments (hopefully) enough to take somekind of action. It is only when things are brought into international attention something could change. Poor people, dont even know how much they owe, apparently they owe their life.
Might there be a part 2 at some point? Be sure your content is easy to read and understand. Just what I was looking for. Your blog has many different points of view when compared to the other articles I've seen. I love the helpful info you provide in these articles. There simply must be a better option then the ones you've laid out here.
You can make a small difference today. Buy only "Fair Trade" items.
Make a bigger difference. Don't trade- don't buy anything, don't use money. be self-sufficient, amke your own stuff and swap it for stuff you need.
The problem is with world governments. If there weren't as many people, and people hunted and gathered, we'd be much better off. Guess it depends on what each individual decides what true happiness and success really is. As long as there are governments demanding we pay taxes on everything, and we support the lazy individuals and expect everyone to live by the same standards, expect to see slavery, debt, etc... That's not science, that's common sense.
I guess we could also walk on all fours and live on trees, swinging from branch to branch. May be our tails will grow back too.
Since not much world history is taught in schools these days– FYI, many of the poor countries, particularly like India, Bangladesh, Kenya etc are poor because of Imperialism. Almost all of India's wealth went to Britain- the portion left after Moslem invasions. China's wealth went in a dozen directions, as with South East Asia.
Good. It is time the world knew the truth about India.
you talk as if nobody knew about it!
Every country has good thing and bad thing..atleast Indians r sure of Father name and western coutry u might number number of fathers and still not sure who is ur father...do not gudge any coutry from one article...
I am Brazilian and I can say that in Brazil there is still slavery. Every year the government releases a few hundred workers. But I imagine that more should be done. In many remote areas there is simply no government oversight such as illegal ranchers in the Amazon. I hope the world will soon be free of this inhuman cruelty.
Any oil to be had? Otherwise, America does not care. Sorry, but find oil and America will be there.
This is so horrendous. If it has been a law banding this practice and it is not being enforced. Then who else is getting a share of the money off of these people???
Thank you CNN for bringing this important issue to attention.
This is the true face of India, sweatshops, higher cast, lower cast and slavery.
Stop buying Made in India.
___ How is this different than the millions of U$ Wage Slaves ? ___
Does anyone else find it really sad that nobody has chosen to focus on the CHILD in this story?
Idiots doing wordsmithing and arguing amongst adults with mindless retorts – shame on you.
There are just so many children that I am numb to their presence. A cat is cute, but the lady with 20 of them and 2 dead under the couch is disgusting.
Get over yourself. Evidently you do not have children and if you do I am so sorry.
You obviously have too many.
If you're trying to clear the negative image of India after this CNN article, you are in favor of slavery.
I doubt very much if it is the initial debt that burdens them. It sounds very similar to the 'company store' the coal mines had. The miners used to work to pay off the bill at the store for food/lodging but never made enough to reduce the debt. I am sure the landowner in India charges them for lodging and food, so no matter how much they work, it produces a negative result at the end of the day.
Yes, this is a point missed in many of the comments here!
There is no dignity of labor in India. A janitor is looked like they are scum, a waiter is yelled at for just bringing food a certain way, a paperboy is looked at like he will forever be a paperboy. There is no respect for women, except because if they don't they might get in trouble with the law.
India for all its progress in recent times is still backwards (trust me I am Indian who live in the states). Even indians who live in the US have this close mindedness.
All this with educated citizens of India. Now imagine what happens with illiterate people.
Politicians are elected by how much power and fear they can weild (literally some places politicians run for office by the number of murders they have committed) and we are surprised by the corruption in India?
The U.S. should outsource more jobs to countries like this....ugh.
It is a painful image, but what is even more painful is that no body is doing anything to stop such things. What does it take these days to stop such behavior? One thing is for sure peaceful marching is not the answer. It is time to get up and do something stupid that show that everybody means business.
Thank you
Andrickson Alix
They were paid in advance for their work. How is that slavery? They arent working for free.
Some people are just too dumb to realize this. You are so right.
So I'm guessing that this form of slavery is barbaric. Not really a guess, but could be mutually agreed upon.
I'm sure the situation is a lot worse than what this article portrays for the folks in India.
My question; what is the difference between the slavery they are in and the slavery the whole world is in? Standard of living (yes), wages (yes), social treatment (yes). Perhaps the difference is in that a majority of the world is OK with being a slave to a form of currency. Currency forces everyone into slavery of some form where the slave owners are the ones controlling the currency. Brash, obscene, flat out ridiculous? Perhaps. But what if you quit your job, now what?
It's not slavery if you're paying off a debt.
If that were the case, I would consider my bank my master.
The India authorities,the American,the British and all their friends in crime knew what is going on they only look away, simple, why ? NO OIL, NO GOLD in INDIA.
This is what happens when you allow politicians like Republican Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker have their way. Bust the unions and send the people back to slave wages!!!! This is why we have labor unions in America.
Oh, when I read "Paying off debts through slavery," I assumed the article was about student loans.
Do you study this subect all of the time? It is a real pity you do not have a donate option. Where should I find out even more on this topic? Hope the issue gets solved soon. I just want to tell you that this post is awesome! My aunts trying to learn more on this topic.
This reminds me of Animal Crossing for the DS.
In a optimistic view ... India is growing at 9%. It will be $5T economy by 2015 and will be largest economy by 2040. A story of a single family cannot be interpreted to a nation with 1.2B population. Poverty erdication happening at largescale in India, sad to know this kind of stories. India has to live with that till welath distribution happens.
i want to no whose dummer, the peeple makin the briks or the tards posting hear that cant spel.
the u s military needs to invade and stop this insanity. we could then brick every building in the country.
These people need to mount an insurrection. If everyone one of them stood together against those that enslaved them, they could free themselves. Organizations that say they're trying to free the slaves, what are they actually doing, because slavery has existed for centuries, and yet, it still exists.
Mainly because they would all be killed, this is not America the story is talking about.
Does anyone know how I can help? Who can I contact? I'd like to help out a family pay off their loan...
i'm willing to lead a bake sale in NYC. Let's regroup and do this!
We still have slavery here in the U.S. — and the Banks/Credit Cards are the plantation owners.
The problem is these people are praying on the ignorance of others. By 'loaning' out $20 they receive many times more than that in work and I'm sure they have some very high interest rate so the $20 can never be paid off at the rate in which they accredit their work. In America banks do similiar things to the ignorant by loaning them money in the form of check advances or credit and charging very high interest rates but only asking a small amount be paid back every month. That way they will never pay off the initial debt and the bank will earn many times more their initial pay out. The way we do it is more civilized but it is still very similiar.
Sorry, preying not praying. That is another form of slavery altogether.
Where do I send the $22 they owe? Then again I am not sure it will matter.
That's why I was thinking, I'd pitch in too. This seems very illegal though, not only have they 'paid off' their debt they are also entitled to income for the labor they have done. Hopefully the US and other can get involved and help change these practices.
And too think we allow outsourcing to a slave country(India), along with foreign aid. Shame on us the U.S.taxpayers for allowing such atrocities to continue, even in these (so called) modern times. Think it's also time we bow out of the U.N., their not doing their job either!
...and to think that the US has made us commies very rich! thank you. we will remember your generosity when we rule the world and force you all to make bricks.
Coming soon to America, once the Republicans slander, lie and cheat their way back into power!
I have seen these slaves work conditions first-hand, they are called 'Bhatta' slaves in rural India &Pakistan. Debts can start as little as $50 to treat a sick child and end up enslaving generations to come because of unfair accounting practices and compounded interest.
The fight should be against feudalism, which compels them to stay there through the use of voilence and intimidation. They need financial and legal support of the serious kind. The Indian government is well capable of accomplishing this, but need to be 'forced' through affluent countries like the U.S., who are a trade partner and crucial in getting India recognition on the international stage. This is a very strong bargaining chip and leverage tool.
All we can say is that there is a reason the MAO terrorists are on the rise in INDIA specially in the states on ANdhra/UP / Bihar
If you live there you will see why INDIA still struggles and is still a emerging economy. The Glitz and Glamour of Mumbai / Delhi does not do a good interpretation just like Hollywood and its glamour does no good justification of povery in Lusianana/ NY/ Chicago South etc.
Now this is terrible, I would rather die than being treated a slave. I believe and know nobody can take away my God giving rights, because God himself gave man right to choose between right and wrong, life and death, good and bad. So, people can only take away what is giving them by other people. I wonder how one person could influence thousands to crime or tyranny without anyone standing up to him. It goes a long way to show that people themselves do not know their stand or are not sure of it. Well left to me, anyone attempting that around me will surely pay with something dear, possibly his own very life and I am sure i will have God's support on that because he himself knighted me. Maybe I should have been a bloody zealous american soldier.
America is full of slaves, mostly women forced or conned into prostitution but most men ignore than concept. Oh sure, they LOVE having sex with you guys. Now how many men want to have sex with a bunch of fat, drunk, crude old ladies who think they are desired. 🙂
Some cultures favor big families, it's quite likely the only form of support in old age the parents will have. Just because a culture is different doesn't make them better or worse than Americans, it just makes them different. Many Americans are against abortion and providing birth control, but then want to cut health car to infants? You'll forced a woman to bear a child she doesn't want. How about helping care for it? How many in this country, regardless of their faith would volunteer to be a brother's keeper? Slavery is bad anywhere, but if you don't like the way another country does things, pack up and go help them change by your example instead of rolling in with tanks and another shock and awe.
We are all slaves to our debts and bills. I work 7 days a week, 64 hours a week to pay off my debt. I don't like it, but I don't really have a choice.
Amazing! Has anyone seen that short film, "Kavi"? It was at last year's Oscars. It's a short fiction, but it's exactly what this article is talking about! A young boy in India forced to work in a brick kiln... I was blown away by it: short, powerful, but hopeful. This is the link to it: http://www.KaviTheMovie.com
Has anyone seen it?
Some humans are not really humans. They are lower than pond scum masquerading as humans. They don't think twice before sucking the blood or eating the flesh off of other humans, if only that would help them fill their bellies and keep them satisfied. They don't think twice before stepping on other humans and trampling them into the ground, if only that would help them climb up the "social ladder". They wouldn't even think twice before making little kids toil and wet their lawns with tears, sweat or blood, if only that would help make their grass look green.
This system needs a rewrite. Or, at the least, this system needs a reboot. That's all I can say.
This story is BS .. I am from India and know exactly how it works there ..
The public elsewhere shud understand that India is a 1.3 billion country with a diverse population .. not all can be rich .. not all can be poor .. and not all can be middle-class. There are social strata's that meek out a living by doing daily labour but to compare them with slaves is just an american attempt to portray themselves as an anti-slavery champion and hide their past as slave capitalist. Family of labourers take advance money and agree to commit themselves to a set number of days work, this is not slavery, this is work by their choice. When you pull people away from their villages and ship them to another continent and sell them to a bidder of your choice .. then .. that is what is called slavery my dear Americans.
Having said the above, I do accept there are several social evils which still need to be eradicated in my country but this articles about slavery in India is total BS from CNN
Your comment seems so irrelevant. Saying something is BS and American made contrivances does little to change the reality of what is happening. Does this really seem contrived to you or is it just that you dont want to face the facts? Is it that you love your country so much that the tragedy of a fellow country man is just an inconvience and minor blemish to you? So how just is it to be working towards some day that you never are sure will happen? How just is it to be paid wages in such a designed manner that you will never find yourself out of the pit you fell into? Send some of your family members there and then afterwards rant about how it is just BS.
This is egzactyly why I done not vote for obamma. We all be slaves when he done.
Maybe you should take advantage of the educational system while you can...from the look of the grammar and spelling in your post, you could stand to brush up a bit.
It's people like you that keep slavery alive today. It's goes to show you, you have no idea what's going on in the world today and yesterday. If you think Obama is the cause of slavery, then you need to go back to school and study your history. Better yet, get a heart and maybe you will learn something. Instead of sounding like a stupid person, try doing something to help!!
WOW, amazing...yet, why am i not surprised to hear something like this is happening? How do they know if their parents or grandparents even owe the bosses anything? Anyone can say..."hey your grandfather owes me 3000.00 so you better pay!" wow!
I am amazed at the heartless and cruel statements that I read here. Calling these people stupid, poor and dumb. Why? Saying Asia and Africa is the most corrupt. That is insane talk. The article is eye opening. We as a rich country support it cause we buy things that are made in Asia. The article failed to mention who the "owners" are or the business. Why is that. Real more at withallthatsaid.com.
You people have no clue about India. Everyone seems to be very interested but the next big hollywood thing comes out or if XBOX makes a new thing these Indian atrocities will not matter.
This is not the only ghastly thing happening in India. There are kids abducted, arms severed, eyes plucked and used as beggars on the street. That has become like an underground business.
Nothing will matter because, me included, we are all complacent with our own priorities while there is death and suffering elsewhere. People we entrust to make these things not happen are in on it like the politicians, police of India. We can probably hold our silence for 2 mins and move on because there will always be someone to exploit the weak.
We have debt slavery here in the United States but it's disguised as student loans, mortgage payments, absurdly high medical bills, ridiculous legal and administrative fees, etc.
Oh for God's sake...are you *really* trying to equate your "tax burden" with slavery? Really? Is the IRS gonna come and take your family? Perhaps sell your daughter into prostitution? Sell you son off to another country? Make your wife work at a brick oven with no end in sight? You're a flipping idiot.
The more I read posts from people on these stories, the less faith I have in my fellow man. Not to reduce this to a religious emperitive, but didn't Jesus say "As you treat the least among you, you treat me"? There are similar quotes in Buddhism, Judiasm, and Islam as well. And I did I *really* read a comment on here from someone who went to medical school trying to equate his college loans with involuntary servitude?! Are you kidding me? Is someone threatening to sell your mom into prostitution if you don't pay them back? People in the West (and the U.S. specifically) have a lifestyle that many people around the world can't even possibly *fathom*, yet to try to put yourself forth as 'put upon'. You are a joke.
Ya, it is heart breaking stuff in my home country happening now. People and the Govt has not morals, even in this modern wolrd, things like this really a heart breaking when I hear them. I am helping my own village people from last 12 years, how much can I do myself? there are 25% -40% of people are below poverty line in India. Most folks do not understand the whole situation, only looking modern side of India, but not at root level... I read lot of excellent comments made here, to bring up this message to govt level, only way some one needs to build a nice documentary and publish on world network like this CNN. Then you will see the response from everyone. Billiions of dollors are allocated by Govt, most 95% goes to middle govt servants and other officials never reach to the bottom who really needed. Very sad .....
I don't understand why this overweight reporter lady is so pissed off about. This is how capitalism works.
Imagine our future, if we do not reverse our debt trends. We are already morphing into a nation of taxpayers slaving away to pay interest on the national debt.
Hi Sai,
I am not sure from you are, but you need live in India in a village, you will understand the life of these people. PEOPLE has no choice when they are hungry " they do whatever they can to save themselevs and their siblings". But unfortunately, they are trapped. Yes, they have taken loan, but the work they do is 10x times than what they got paid. They are not educated and bonded for generations .... Stupid officials never take a step until you pay bribe... That really bothers me. This article is 100% is true. Accepting the truth is hard, but it is real. ...Hope you understand. See the metros in slum areas, even you dont want to go that side to see what is happening...
This story sounds like a muslim's life and the boss is his inman telling what he has to do.
Every one please stop making unworthy comments. I come from the same town in UP India, currently living in US. The story published may be about 60 to 70 % correct. Yes, there are people who are in the brick backing business. This business involves digging earth, making earth dough that will be converted in to rows of bricks which will be backed and sold.
The owner of Brick Kline Oven called 'Bhatta' hires this labor on contract – you may call it a short term slavery or what ever. Some have political links too but over all I don't think these labor stays permanently. They move from town to town and even from one 'Bhatta' to another in the same are.
Life is tough, but show me where the life is easy. There is so much to do to bring up these people from poverty. But in any case some one got to do the dirty job. Watch TLC Dirty job.
Maybe you'd like to be the one doing the dirty job, and work years to pay off a $22 loan. You need to have your head checked. Your "justification" of this evil is absolutely incomprensible.
the bible says slavery is ok so it must be ok for god which means its ok for me
Shows how dumb you are...living your life by the tenents of a 2000 year old book. By the way, they think the earth is *round* these days....
Perhaps you missed the part in the Bible that says everyone is a slave of sin, and the wages of sin is death. It's not OK for you or anyone to be a slave.
This can happen in America if we keep cutting business regulation rules, cutting funding of enforcement agencies, and cutting education for poor. That is the "perfect world" for business.
Its evident that the Indian Govt. has a hand in this lucrative corruptive system or else they would have taken actions to prosecute these men who con and imprison these helpless people. This is the same tactic that america used after the 13th amendment was ratified, many blacks at that time still endured the harsh treatment white america afflicted upon them while the govt stood on the side reaping the benefits of free labor and i'm telling you now, as the population of india is rapidly growing and the gap btw the rich and poor grows wider, Free labor is the one of the best way for the government to receive tax revenues.
Hey, look, an economy without any government supervision. Yeah, the market corrects itself. Lets de-regulate more, obviously, it's working fine elsewhere.
Fareed Zakaria – see the wonders of your new world order alive and kicking. Just a follow up to your wonderful piece in Time Magaziine extolling your globalist elist policies that feed slavery like this, while claiming that the US constitution is an outdated 18th century document. No doubt this "prosperity" in India makes the fat landed globalist smile.
I am reading this article while in line at Starbucks and I must say I was outraged! I read the entire article before I got to the front of the line, worst thing EVER!
I just pictured an outraged guy at the front of a Starbucks line shouting "I'D LIKE A VENTI WITH ROOM FOR CREAM, PLEASE... ARGH"
Food for thought: the $22 that enslaved an entire Indian family is probably less than what many Americans spend per month on coffee.
Hey! Don't blame us for ordering coffee. Blame their parents who enslaved them in the first place !! Animals.
PS I'm not blaming anyone for ordering coffee; I do it every day. 🙂 In fact I encourage people to go out to coffee shop as much as possible to support businesses! Keeping good businesses going by buying what we like by choice is the beauty of capitalism and what keeps the US from becoming like an Indian slum.
Seems fair to me. Pay your debts.
India would be such a wonderful place if they could control their population. The really horrifying thing here is seeing a family that can't even feed and support themselves going out and having SEVEN kids! And that's common for Indian poor! As long as that kind of population growth occurs among these impoverished populations, economic development is going to continue going backwards.
@me – Are you talking about every major American inner-city or India?
Both, sadly.
I wish there was some kind of charity where I could pay these families the $22 or whatever they need to pay their debts but in return they'd have to promise to have no more than 1 child so the pain of poverty isn't passed down as much.
The highest right given to mankind by God was Freedom and if that right is being threaten, a person is in their right to protect it by any means necessary!!
I am impressed! Try to make the guest blog as excellent as possible by promoting and dropping links. Hey, that is a clever way of thinking about it.
This is why China, Russia, and India will be the next top 3 superpowers and we will be left with our heads spinning. We just use taxpayers to pay off other's debt while these places will force them to work it off.
India a Superpower? Ya riggghhhtt... their army of mules and mopeds are pretty scary!
Take any stand you like, slavery is not only alive and well it's more popular now than ever before. As the population of the world continues to explode human life will continue to become worth less and less. Slavery, and its variations, will continue to grow and expand because of basic economics. Pass any law you wish , it won't stop it.
Obi Wrote:
"The largest check I write each month other than rent is to student loan. Student loan bases payments on gross salary, ignoring taxes, rent or groceries. I have to watch every penny and have no savings.
It's worse for US soldiers; the federal govt takes their debts straight out of salary, which is why so many are homeless; you could get a 2000 pension but end up with 200 once the govt takes soldier's debt out."
What are you talking about? Military debt to the government? I spent 26 years in the service. Yes they do take what is owed to them. I have not seen the whole sale homeless that you speak of. I do get a retirement check for my service time and I do see most of it, after taxes. Nothing like the 90% loss you speak of. Check your facts please.
This really makes you appreciate life in the USA. I wish there were groups set up to stop this. Its absolutely appalling these people are put through this slavery for what appears to be hardly any money at all.
have you paid attention to the value of the U.S.dollar ever decreasing??? the fed creating money out of thin air and charging us interest on it???? do some research...we live in the USB. United States of BRITIAN....and we are indebted therefore enslaved to them. Its all about the PRIVATE banksters......and basically we ARE screwed.
You nailed it Vic. Spread the word and wake up America. Thanks to the banksters, our country has been looted and soon the dollar will not be worth the paper it's printed on.
I really liked your blog. Your site was running when I opened my computer. Being detailed is great, but don't go overboard with producing lots of unneeded files at the beginning. I've been a big fan of yours for a while now and I look forward to seeing more from you. Thank you for sharing your information with me.
There are plenty of do gooder groups already set up who will happily take the money of saps that think slavery can be abolished. It's been here since the dawn of time and has been growing and expanding ever since.
Thanks for the advice! I am really impressed!
Data is just about everything. I am going to like your website on Facebook. Using this advice has seriously increased my street credit. Ever been to Arizona? My girlfriend said they love your blogs website. Right on with this article, as always.
We are ALL debt slaves to the banksters...doesnt matter where you live...If you are not a billionaire,trillionare....YOU ARE ONE TOO!
Is India really a 3rd world or just uber-corrupt? They have cities, internet, wireless phones, flatscreen tvs, restaurants, streets, and skyscrapers just like we do. Maybe excuses is all they really have.
A developed country comes from the conditions of a society and not physical things. A few people might have fancy TVs but millions still live in poverty.
Interesting discussion. Many of my ancestors worked under a similar arrangement. They could not afford the trip to escape their country of origin, so they agreed to work for years in exchange for a trip out, essentially borrowing the fare for the trip and repaying it in labor. When arriving in my country, they were essentially sold to bidders on the other end. I don't know if the conditions were so oppressive, or whether they would describe it as "slavery" ......or "opportunity." I am an American, and the descendant of indentured servants. I appreciate the sacrifices they made and clearly live in a new world where it seems almost unimaginable that that sort of thing would happen. so....slavery? or opportunity? that is the question.
No unions, no health care, lots of work and making the rich even richer, what else do this people want. No, wait, that is what the republicans want in this country.
Agreed on healthcare.Unions are bleeding CA dry – do your homework. Unless, of course, you are a union member. You know, when the poor take control it is not quite so much fun – look at my native Russia's history.
This is a moving story. You can make a difference by making a donation to a charity that fights this kind of terrible injustice.
In case anyone is interested, here's a list of some of those charities. The ones I'm listing are all highly rated (4-stars) in Charity Navigator (a charity rating web site). Check them out at the charitynavigator website (it's an org) or do a search online to make a donation directly. Here are the organizations names, and their mottos:
-Dalit Freedom Network : End Dalit trafficking, make slavery history
-Free the Slaves : Working to end slavery worldwide
-The Advocates for Human Rights : Promoting and protecting internationally recognized human rights
-Equality Now : Working to end violence and discrimination against women and girls
And there are others, of course. One of the largest ones that deals with general poverty worldwide is CARE (rated 3 stars, due to its size).
Take action. Make a donation. Make a difference.
Ya, riggghhhttt. And I have a house located in swamp land in Florida that I can sell you. Its a five star place, honest!
To Jowwarra. I'm not sure what you mean by your post. Charity Navigator is a well recognized website that analyzes and rates charitable organizations. A number of people, in their posts here, have expressed interest in donating but didn't know where to go. I simply tried to help out by researching a number of charities, and selected a handful that seemed relevant and were well rated. There are others charities, if you prefer. Or none, if you'd rather not do anything. No problem. I'm just providing the information for those who may be interested. Peace.
This is a very sad reality. What makes me sadder, however, is that it's very likely that most of these slaves already worked enough to pay their debts but they will never realize it because they are illiterate.
Yes, so true
Ahhh, India! The butthole of the world, would you expect anything less?
It's amazing that there are still people treating each other like animals. India is a fourth world country at best.
this cracks me up!! We have slavery here in America...... many of the people that immigrated to this country are indentured servants. They must work in the store, factory or whatever the lord owns to pay off the debt paid to get them to this country. The US is going back to slavery. The rich are getting rich on the back of the little man that once was the middle class in this country. Mandatory insurance, heating costs, electricity, gasoline, food. And we just bend over and take it with a broomstick and no vaseline. Wake up people, we have enough right here at home to worry about. SERIOUSLY.
I wonder how the slaves feel about the possible NFL lockout.
CNN didn't have to go to India. Modern-day slavery exists in the United States on plantations in isolated areas of rural Mississippi and Louisiana. Escapees have testified to horrendous beatings, starvation, burying alive, hacking into pieces of women and babies for fish bait, unending work, and murder of black slaves. It was known as peonage after the War, when slave owners took advantage of newly freed slaves who had nowhere to go, or were arrested on trumped up charges and returned to slavery. Many are still trapped in these hell holes. CNN doesn't want you to know about this because many prominent politicians have knowlege and allow it to continue.. Some of the slaves are white, but because the majority are black, they want it secret. It's much easier to do a story on India.
Well, since you seem to be aware of this, why don't you provide more information to educate us? I would like more information.
Wow, sounds like a pretty rough life.
I wonder if any of them got to see Obama when he was there with his $200 milllion a day entourage?
Come to think of it, at the prices listed, could Michelle not cut her trip short one day and freed about 10 million of the slaves. How many were there? Okay, so maybe she cuts a day and a breakfast off the trip and frees all the slaves in India. How generous would that have been of her.
Oh well, hope she enjoyed the sites.
How many have YOU sent money to assist?
How much have YOU sent?????????????????????????????
Since most of us, like myself, probably never even knew that this atrocity existed, why would you assume such a thing and be so judgmental, rather then find constructive words of help.
I'll discuss your site with my Reddit meet up. I am really looking forward to more articles from you. How many blog posts do you usually produce in a week? You really should doing what you are doing awesome content like this one! Your points are really well formed and laid out.
Any more feedback? It would be really appreciated. I have written down your suggestion and I plan on applying it when I'm able to. It is weird, I've shown this article with many people, it looks to me like very few people are able to grasp how important this really is. It is crazy how much the world is evolving all the time but I like how much this website always stays up to date with the latest news and information. I have just learned new things through your blog.
Very sad and shameful...wish I could do something, anything to help these people...life certainly is unfair
Where is Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and all of the other race baiters? Or do they only care about black slaves from over a century ago? Slavery is slavery; why don't all of you civil rights activists jump on this one? Could it be that slavery is only important if it involves someone of your color? Hypocrites....
YES! Finally the TRUTH
boy you better calm yourself! this is 1 reason why they haven't jumped on it yet, because of people like you.
@Immortal – Ignore the previous post.
The problem with your example is that the act of murder, according to law, implies some measure of intent on the part of the murderer. Intent further implies that the murderer–if he is indeed to be called a murderer–held at the time of the crime a reasonable understanding of the consequences of his actions. The victims of usury so described in the article, however, appear to hold scant understanding of what kind of contract they are entering in to–that they will be bound for generations, that their children will be forced into prostitution, that they will likely never escape their debt, and that disobeying those to whom they are indebted will likely yield violence. To say that they should go ahead and learn these things prior to the contract (and I use the term "contract" loosely here) implies the type of widespread literary and social equality simply not present in India (and call me cynical, but I doubt these people are told up front about theses things). What is more, some element of malice should be present in order for "murder" to occur. I doubt the poor people described in the article held anything even closely resembling malice in their decision to become slaves. The same applies to your credit card example: when signing a credit contract–for short-term loans, cars, mortgages–you are presented up front with clear and unmistakable terms (for instance, 4.95% credit over a period of six years).
Incidentally, whether we call it "slavery" or something else makes little difference, for the results are largely the same: upon threat of violence, the people described above are bound geographically, financially, and politically without hope of legal recourse, and they cannot escape the effects of this bondage even through birth. Sounds a lot like slavery to me. We can go ahead and wrestle with problem semantically–calling it this or that, slavery or something else–but whatever the outcome the fact remains that the practice is fundamentally wrong and cannot be justified.
Slavery is a form of forced labour in which people are considered to be the property of others. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand wages.
Capitalism=veiled slavery
Previous @ Immportal
if one's debt is being eradicated, then it isn't slavery. it is a slap in the face to those who actually endured slavery to call it so.
•Slavery (also called thralldom) is a form of forced labour in which people are considered to be the property of others. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand wages.
what are we looking at? $22 $175? Give me a call, I'll pay it. I bet CNN interviewed these people and flew first class back to the U.S. Pony up a few bucks and make a difference.
The stupid reporter probably sat and ate while interviewing them.
I think this is a wonderful idea. If this method was used in every country, no one would borrow beyond their means. Off course, people on welfare are already slaves to the government, but, as all people know, slvery gets things done (like the pyramids, the white house, ect..)
Yea, sounds reaaaaaallll good until they take your daughter or son and rape them. And then you next. Like it better now?????????
Humans are just animals .. rape, murder, slavery, torture, thievery, etc ... always have, always will.
I feel dumber after reading these comments...
So you take a loan, AGREE to work the loan back...and your a slave?
Nope sorry indentured servant maybe, but slave? You had a choice...
Bet not taking that loan is looking real nice.
Slaves don't get a choice or a loan, or a timed freedom. Sorry no pitty for these suckers.
There was never a choice when they were taken to pay the debt of their father, morther or grandparent. And make the debt rape, pillage, and mame as a means of control for labor repayment. Nice try. Sick.
Everyone STOP! For a minute think about the people in the article, what are each of you doing to help curb the disease of slavery and illetracy? I am and will be the first one to say that I will take the first step to aid and assist this cause. How I don't know, but I know I can, who is with me and how do we help those in need?
Wait, wait one minute! these folks were there and intervewing????? where is the part where they ask, how much does so so make per day that goes toward paying back the load? how much is left that he/she owes? when will they be free of the debt from thier work.?? can we see the ledger for each person working?
i cant beleive a reporter didnt ask these important questons and at least try and help those folks.
Bottom line.....until the cycle is broken, this will continue in all kinds of forms, in all kinds of countries. I don't think any of us can fathom what these people have inherited. Imagine your 5 year old building bricks cause his granddad took out a $22 loan? Chances are, these kids won't get educated and will be left to reproduce more slaves as this is what man grows to do if they know nothing else. Like it or not, this will continue to exist unless bigger countries force government reform, and chances of this happening are slim to none without some kind of carrot, ei..oil
It is a classic example of human greed, no respect for fellow humans, and a corrupt judiciary and government. I come from India and have seen this many times. If you report this to police, they would want money from you, if you pay them money, they will go to the person who is making these simple, uneducated work like slaves and ask more money from them.
There is no end to it until the judiciary is strong in India. People who have money can buy the police or judges in no time.
Change comes from Law and implementation of Law.
In india, no one cares about law, you can kill someone, pay and be free on the road.
The western countries have much better judiciary system than in asian or african countries.
The income tax, social security and medicare taken out of your paycheck is involuntary servitude. It is almost the samething. It is either be homeless or have a job and be forced to pay taxes!
That's horrible! I mean, I've heard about slavery back then in Harriet Tubman days, but NOW? That's pretty much outrageous!
Thank you for this post I found it to be very encouraging. I am super impressed with your writing skills. I really get excited thinking about new updates from you. A huge thank you for this. I never discovered any other insight like this. I have been looking almost everywhere online for this information!
@thehappyhuskie: Amen! You are 110% correct!
I think everyone is correct and deserves respect in what they are saying. But, the problem is that we are 'comparing' issues instead of acknowledging the truth in each issue. This type of thing has been going on for thousands of years and the only thing we can do is argue about it. Unless you are going to pay off their debt, change the law, or start a war, they will stay in slavery.
I get it... If you want to know what is really wrong with the world, read the comments.
very funny that correspondent is asking questions in English and so called illiterate and slaves are answering. I am from a remote area of UP and this situation is not real or may be an exception.
Please tell me if I could be of any help to you. How many people could possibly believe in that sort of thing? That might be a really costly and could become a risky venture. If you're able, shoot me an email and we will chat because I have an idea I think you might love.
what a load of bull...everyone knows only American white people before 1863 owned slaves......
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How is this different from communism? They work and are given shelter and food for their labor.
Ask the poor souls from the former Soviet Union.
That's nothing, Scientologist Sea Org members have to serve the Church of Scientology for a billion years, over the course of their reincarnations as human beings plagued by the souls of aliens that the evil galactic overlord Xenu threw into a volcano on Earth.
That's not even to mention how many billions of dollars those Sea Org members will have to pay to have their Thetans read and re-read and there's no discount!!!! >_<
Hey...where can i buy some of those hand made bricks...they must sell pretty cheap!
Karma baby, Karma!
Too many Tea Party idiots are making small minded opinion on here.
this is bull shit really a 5 year old child woring give me a break those people are cold hearted and will go to hell ! God what has this worl come to. it gets me so mad when i see slavery i just think that GOD will NOT forgive them and their sins. and that stupied guard sayed that the childern have to work if they want food, F** me me now for all i care that man is a low life and olny cares about money its sick and gross!
just because someone credit score not hitting 720 and he or she not able to refinace his house towards lower rate of interest , with declining income and limping healthcare cost and looming crisis of loosing his house could result into similar situation, instead of work for free he looses his house with that goes his kids fortune and hard earned income- reality of life have faces. This story in india resembles for millions living in USA.
There are tremendous inequalities in the USA, but my friend they are NOTHING like the ones in this story. Puhleeaze.
excellent blog. This article was, how would one say it? Awesome! Got sucked into your page for the last hour. This is great. Well written!
Keep voting repuklian, it will REALLY be the same here!
I feel so bad for them, it should be black people making those bricks.
There is a lot of loopholes in this shoddy one-sided reporting (and no, I do not support slavery!). So, those people are slaves because of a $100 loan? and after generations they have not figured out how much they owe or don't owe?? I think that is B.S. Even if they are illiterate, I am sure they can count money. Why couldn't the CNN guys there tell them? why couldn't they ask somebody who could read? The illiteracy excuse just doesn't add up. Most likely, these "slaves" have kept on borrowing faster than they can pay it off.
All I hear are opinions, not one person is willing to do something about it! Shunning the notions of slavery by finding holes in a story must make some of you feel better that you don't have to live like that and clear your conscience! One day we will have to face who we are and what we could have done to make it better for all around us..
I totally agree. But I also think that because most of us reading this article have to get up and go to work to keep from living in the dirt and squallier of our 'master', we are not in a position to do anything yet. But if we keep this in mind, and then when we retire we can. Just do not for get those in this bondage.
Lets STOP pointing fingers at each other and stereotyping nations. Bonded Labour is common in India, being carried out under the watchful eyes of the law and politicians because everybody gets a share in the moolah. What we need is exactly what has been done here, bring IT out out on the front pages of CNN, Times, etc so that people, NGO's, governments from all around the world put a pressure on the Indian government to check this societal evil. Only then will those responsible for such acts be punished and the law wake up to the realities.
I am really beyond amazed, I got to tell you. You always seem to know just what to write. I've been following you for a while now and I really enjoy the improvements you have made to this blog. And that can often be a very unique kind of problem. You must really have a good head resting on your neck. I have some great thoughts for this website so we should chat.
There is an old axiom that people get the government they deserve. However, the good people of Wisconsing never reckoned on the their new governor's radical assault on the institution of collective bargaining. After creating a financial crisis with his business tax cuts, the governor turned to state employees to make up the difference, which they have agreed to do.
Will the rabid right ever run out of sacred cows to gore? Or, for that matter, progressive Gores to cow? What's next for rightwing cheap shots, having last week's bushwhacked Michelle Obama's radical support for motherhood, breast-feeding, infant nutrition, and against childhood obesity? Talk about an immoral minority that needs to suckle the milk of human kindness.
Castigating programs to educate new, needy mothers about the immense virtues of breast milk only reinforces my growing fear there is no pale beyond which extremists may go so repulsive their base turns away in horror. The Tea Party House coalition takes no prisoners, meaning no sacred cows or safe infants or government by and for the people. Charity for all? Gone, forgotten, kaput.
Yet monumental contradictions persist, like tectonic cracks. All fetuses (who survive conception) must be born, the Biblical right demands, but that doesn't mean public support for the health or prosperity, even life of preterms and newborns. Let them eat cake if babies can't get mother's milk. Getting born is what God dictates, with notably empty mandates for what happens later. Nice.
Strange how anti-abortionists worship any stranger's unborn fetus (the virulent approving murder of abortion doctors), but accept no social or political obligation to nurture even the neediest youngsters actually born. Life is apparently only holy until you actually start breathing, then it gets hard. What about widespread hunger already afflicting older children, as millions in our country go to bed unfed, a situation that will worsen as government aid evaporates. But for the hard-hearted, life is a condition, a vale of tears, not an entitlement.
And yet, pro-lifers who reject government intervention for newborns want laws banning abortion, thus awarding the same suspect, formerly hated government crushing power to thwart historic parental rights. Government overreach ain't bad when serving your ideology. Further, the same "pregnancy mandates birth" crowd unabashedly supports the conscious killing of adult prisoners - capital punishment. Nor, considering the chatter about fetal life, do rightwingers hesitate to own guns, not only for killing unarmed animals but facilitating gun accidents by their own unmonitored children.
Nor does this rabid right even question when our leaders concoct unwarranted wars against a variety of evil-doers, real or perceived. Where was the pro-life outrage when nine innocent Afghan children were mistakenly killed a week ago by American drones fighting an endless, unwinnable war? What about accused adulterers stoned to death in countries flush with our own military?
When ideologues abandon even pretend solutions to anything real (where're the jobs, Speaker Boehner?), the fallback entails belligerent provocation, exaggerated contempt, indirection, and buffoonery. And so we come to rightwing attacks on the First Lady's modest proposals to advance breast-feeding, granting babies immunity against childhood infections (now producing 900 avoidable infant deaths a year) plus reducing later issues with obesity, diabetes, and food addictions.
So much for my withered fantasy that some conceivable line of political no return exists - limits beyond which the unhinged cannot go without sharp penalty. The last two years have killed a river of audacious administration hopes, so I accept this current, literal dis-illusion-ment - releasing this illusion. If the right escapes censure for impugning life-supporting breastfeeding, especially for poor and minority single mothers, what isn't vulnerable to sneering assault? Not only was Ms. Obama attacked for "hectoring," but criticized for pushing the new "nanny state" - as if infant health and safety programs are just more "government takeovers."
Lost me at Wisconsing. Are those teachers in Wisconsing in slavery to their debt, or is the state of Wisconsing in slavery to their debt from which the state is about to go bankrupt as a direct result of the forecasted growth in public pensions primarily owned by the teachers in Wisconsing?
Plagiarize much? Or only when taking cheap shots at the US Taxpayer? Another Leftist FAIL. Rather than stealing other people's thoughts and ideas (Robert Becker in this case). Or demanding more money from the 50% of the gainfully employed who actually PAY income taxes, why don't you make some loans through Kiva.org. I am moving in on my 50th loan! And I am proud to say I see these loans as a way to fight back against slavery and the typical Leftist drivel (and plagiarism) that passes as "critical thought" to most of the left-leaning misguided tools that lurk on CNN comment boards.
I find this bounded labor as being evil like futilism with serfdom at its finest like what Europe and America for years. I wonder if I could boycott these brick makers or smething. I wonder if I could pay for these peoples freedom with an exceptoion like a contract for their freedom from any future or present to past agreements null and void and al agreements agreeing in contridiction to be voidee with a verbal interpreter. I'm truly disgusted in India right now like any nations with child labor or anything similar. This truly is evil.
While always accusing the West of Moral Depravity nowhere on the face of this earth are children treated so horribly than in China, India, Cambodia, Thailand you name it. – The East has its own dirty laundry to clean up!! (and Iam a supporter of India and the great achievements India has given the world)
In the US is exactly the same....! The only difference it's the dirt. You pay for years and years absurd amounts of interest. The CHAINS in US are also called "American Dream"
India, Nigeria, Brazil, the Ivory Coast......what is the COMMON thread here?? I'll tell you!!!! It is the WHITE DEVI.....oh wait, never mind.
A real question at what point no matter how sad,stupid,smart,poor,rich do you ask people to be responibale for there own actions?
i am most def. not saying that this is at all ok but on thing to keep in mind is that it will always be a part of life (very sad)
,if the whole world lived in big house and worked in nice offices who would build and clean them?
sorry if i come off cold.
p.s. i love reading all these comments about how the west is so evil and we are the devil and talking to all my hippie freind and have yet to see one truly make a diff and join the peace corp.
This story really pissed me off, it is just a different version of "loan sharking", except the interest collected is labour. Some scum bag cooks up a technique of enslaving innocent and uneducated naive souls. It is a crime and India is just so full of these inhumane behavior.
@cas i second that it does piss me off buti also know that for the rest of time this practice will be use (because it works)
Slavery to debt for generations to come. Interesting topic. This is what our great-grandchildren have to look forward to because our politicians can't seem to find middle ground to agree on anything enough to solve the financial problems that plague our Federal Government, and our country. Slavery to debt. The category of largest growth in our Federal budget, from last year to this year, is the increase in interest expense on the debt we owe.
so sad how little humanity we show towards other people.
Ha, I work to pay off my bills too. Not sure how this is slavery, if it is I guess I'm a slave to my mortgage company, my wife and my credit cards. Do a story about me!
Well, don't live on credit - moron – how can you compare!
There is a kind of stupidity in the mind of 90% of American People that I do not really understand....! This is real slavery....! $14,190,671,487,115.23 (as of today) I bet some of us will have not clue of what it's. And we consider the US "The Land of Freedom" And we even trying to teach other nations what to do and how to achieve freedom, democracy and capitalism. In America we're just a bunch a other kind of stupids slaves....!
Funny how anytime someone like you blabs out the national debt is some how equals or even can be compared to real slavery. A country working...is that, debt is happening. A individual in the USA can become rich...all in hard work, careful planning.
Guess what a REAL slave is? None of those factors apply. You never leave, you never pay off anything... you die as a slave.
So this story is about indentured servants who have a chance...if...they were educated enough to know how much they own and how much they make.
Human ignorance is different than forced slavery.
What's the difference in U.S.? 'They' say our grandchildren owe the Fed. Really now think about it.
Point taken, but we do not live like these families – yet.
The authorities of powerful countries should care more about the problems of people with little schooling living in developing nations because the slavery of today reminds us of the time when rich countries benefited from the institutionalized slavery of those who came from poorer countries. Therefore, rich countries have a moral debt to help the vulnerable people currently living in poor nations who are subject to gross human rights violations. Let's not allow things go back to where they were in the past. Slavery is the ultimate degradation of a human being.
while i think slavery is a bad thing this artical is a total joke as slavery is legal in most of the world china, india most of the middle eastern countries including iran, sauid aribia, turkey,iraq,kuwait,lybia,egypt also in vietnam, burma, any many many others why bother when it is legal and there is nothing anyone is going to do to change it. its even legal in some parts of europe and south america. it is stupid to think your going to make a difference when laws of other countries allow it and condone it even here in america some diplomats have been caught using slaves in there homes again it is legal even here in the united states as diplomats have diplomatic ammunity there for .......... thats something to chew on theres nothing any one is going to do about it other than realize its part of the world and deal with it even if my personal feelings are kill the slave owners thats just life...........
The debt issue in comparison is completely not coorilated in this case. We have a choice on equal footing with our politiians, however, these indians were illiterate to theagreement contraccts. We give money to foreign dictators fo cheap products like oil to us for our lack of a foreign policy after the Oil Embargo of 1973. Tell me when will petroleum will run out? The Brent wood conference after WWII is also ticking away at U.S.D control of the world currency. Think about another thing that the U.S creates poverty as well even here in the good old U.S.A. Look at the huged prison system to no decriminalize the puritanical domas of our theocracy of a naion. The same nation who discriminates on hiring of disabled people like myself at a major university and this happens cause americans are illiterate. We allow inequality in our coutnry cause of control issues.
people are so cruel these days. like dude its 2011! and slavery is still here! People need to stand up for themselves because this is like the 21st century and as technology is getting more advanced some people are still living the old days. Landowners shouldnt be this mean and people should learn more about the law.
Enough Comments.. Where can I send 50 Dollars to Free them up!
when you find out, let me know. The problem with these "charities/organizations" is the skimming, for every dollar you send, probably 85% will go to their "expenses".
The non-caucasian world wants what the caucasian world has created, which is the only good scoieties.
The caucasian woman is the most beautiful woman in the world. All men want a caucasian because their beauty goes far beyond that of women of color.
this reminds me a lot of the famous novel, Grapes of Wrath. When the family thought they had finally found good work, only to be tricked into a kind of slavery where their pay was being swallowed up by the price of food and could not leave the work camp due to their "protection". Amazing story; it pretty much covered slavery, communism and the American dream.
Do you really believe slavery isnt happing right here in the usa. I know ppl that owe debts and are working it off by doing yardwork and housecleaning to pay rent money they borrowed or grocery money.
How much of an effect, if any, will this new event have on the current climate we're seeing right now? I guess I really got sucked into your website because when I saw the clock I was surprise to see that I've spent nearly 5 or so hours on this article. Great blog and I look forward to seeing it improve ongoing. I really like posts just like this one.
How can people stand up for themelves when there feet are shackled. Whats wrong with living in the old days it shows respect towards culture. Just because its 2011 dosent mean man kind is going to be freindly and help each, we should be the ones helping those slaves, i would if i knew how.
Did you see the supervisor asking for money from the reporter, that the behavior and attitude of majority of the govt. clerks in India. He who is exploiting the enslaved poor had guts to demand money from a reporter and lough at it too.
I really love the type of writing. I am really impressed. Your biggest threat doesn't come from new businesses. Exceptionally well written article! Do you believe current events might change the world in the coming years?
India is a fully feudal society with full of corruption, as any feudal society has. It's so-called development is mainly restricted among few people and mostly cater the rich and powerful and most importantly these people control local media to beat their own drums. Most of the Indian people we see in western countries also represent that class.
If anyone wants to glimpse of India and its reasons you can go through BBC blog by BBC's online correspondent Sawtik Biswas (in South Asia section) and read the comments there (most from actual Indian people). I am not posting the link as CNN might not allow it.
Here is the link for the India specific blog in BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/soutikbiswas/
If Britain pays just 1% of the loot from India, lot of people can have food.
They looted for 200yrs non-stop and became so rich.
Why don't they pay atleast some of it back ?
they do not even have the same ethics as the poorest in India have.
poorest people in India are trying to pay their loans.
The rich british can atleast pay some of the loot.
they got so much reparations from germany, so why can't they pay a token amount to india for poor in india..
Not really. If Britain gives the money, it will never reach the people who don't have food, but will end up in the pockets who already have eaten enough. You will see those fat Indians in expensive hotels in Swiss resorts, their sons in ivy league universities in UK and US, becoming fatter and more corrupt.
Let Britain agree that they looted and will repay some money..
just like they did for reparations from Germany.
then every poor person can get some money directly to their bank accounts.
White people will never pay any reparations for the damage they did to the whole world...
Is critical that CNN highlight this plight. Importantly what is the solution? What India Govt. or the respective govt. planning to do to solve this problem. India has so many Billionaires who can easily pay up all these people debts.. but are they? Some are getting richer living off this slaves blood and sweat.. Do read the book "White Tiger" 2010 Book of the year and that will give you a glimpse of how this slavery is part of India life.
We should kudos China (even thou non democratic) in eradicating this Slavery. Cant deny, is still thriving especially prosituition. Unfortunately the largest Democratic Country – India is not even taking initiative to eradicate this slavery. In reality the politicians and the rich landowners are behind this slavery. Can India Government take more drastic step to educate the society and eradicate this slavery.
I love your blog however, I do not read well. Do you have videos on the subject? Son of a gun! My pleasure to being here on your blog. You saved me a lot of hassle just now.
India should ask its citizens to lower birth rate first. Adopt one child policy like China for one or two decades. Reducing population must be one of the most important long term priority for India.
This is slavery, pure and simple. There really isn't even anything to debate there.
Of course, this is also most likely the future of the US, as Corporate America gains a firmer grasp over the law making process in the US, and the middle class sinks further into poverty, while the rich get richer(as evidenced even now by the fact that the stock market has largely recovered, and gas prices are going up like wildfire, yet unemployment remains at all time high levels, and the housing market at all time lows).
I'm ready to go with yah.
Joel, we get what we deserve. "Honest" and able politicians or any other professional does not come from the sky, but we have to make and groom them. Indian society does not support that, since may years.
Every "practical" person in India is now trying to get the coveted carrot of money and power. No one really bothers who is tolerating the stick! It is practically a mad rush to become more corrupt, more "intelligent and hardworking" in cheating others (sometimes it can be their own family and society). So we got a "democracy" where we all try our best to become more corrupt, more "backward" (literally, in case of official caste declaration while get angry if someone reminds us of that reality- as a person or as a nation), more hypocrite and at the same time equally naïve, ignorant and stupid- seemingly failing to understand why India is such a rich country with so many poor and corrupt people. Europeans and Americans are always amazed and still can not understand this great Indian mystery.
We are too intelligent people to develop our own country!
Check the comments, mainly by "jay" in BBC's blog by Sawtik Bisaws on the issue of <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/soutikbiswas/2011/01/indias_black_money_hoodwinking_the_people.html blacl money" and corruption.
In case the HTML formatting does not work.
Black Money= http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/soutikbiswas/2011/01/indias_black_money_hoodwinking_the_people.html blacl mone
Corruption= http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/soutikbiswas/2011/02/is_manmohan_singh_in_control.html
naive westerns find india a mystic, soulful country. go figure
If they could get away with it, IBM would adopt this business model.
Your website keeps coming up when I talk with people about this subject. You really changed my mind on a few things. Spot on with this article. These posts are a shock. I try to visit your blog at least once a day or more so I can stay up to date with the latest news and trends. Your article is so awesome that it feels like my eyeballs exploded while reading it.
paying off debt by slavery ? and by slavery i assume they mean "working" but dont billions of people do that everyday all over the world ? work to pay off debt? i guess "slavery means no pay. but we all work and get payed but then give that money to our debts right? so isnt that the same?
We, general Indians, including the so-called 'educated" ones almost always blame politicians or police or someone else but ourselves for the downfall. This deterioration increased exponentially as India opened up its economy. We could not develop a matching judiciary, law enforcement and other associated democratic institution to manage the new found greed and novel ways to cheat people and country.
"Honest" and able politicians or any other professional does not come from the sky, but we have to make and groom them. Indian society does not support that, since may years. Even in so-called "world power" in IT, India can never develop any novel software like Java or C++ or SAP. We only can do routine (mainly maintenance) jobs and use available technology to suit specific need (for the client). As per published report, both India and China is "among the least innovative counrtries in the world".
Every "practical" person in India is now trying to get the coveted carrot of money and power. No one really bothers who is tolerating the stick! It is practically a mad rush to become more corrupt, more "intelligent and hardworking" in cheating others (sometimes it can be their own family and society). So we got a "democracy" where we all try our best to become more corrupt, more "backward" (literally, in case of official caste declaration while get angry if someone reminds us of that reality- as a person or as a nation), more hypocrite and at the same time equally naïve, ignorant and stupid- seemingly failing to understand why India is such a rich country with so many poor and corrupt people. Europeans and Americans are always amazed and still can not understand this great Indian mystery.
In last 5 years, the extremist violence in India in form of Mao-ism or naxal movement has increased about 4 fold, as per Indian govt home ministry.
We are too intelligent people to develop our own country!
Check the comments, mainly by "jay" in BBC's blog by Sawtik Bisaws on the issue of <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/soutikbiswas/2011/01/indias_black_money_hoodwinking_the_people.html blacl money" and corruption.
In case the HTML formatting does not work.
Black Money= http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/soutikbiswas/2011/01/indias_black_money_hoodwinking_the_people.html blacl mone
Corruption= http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/soutikbiswas/2011/02/is_manmohan_singh_in_control.html
If I paid the $22 the brickmaking family owes (the owner will say it's more now because of interest, I'm sure) where would they go? They tppk the money offered. They live at the brick works and get a small amount of food there. There was no work in their village. So even if I paid off their debt, which I would gladly do, would the company start to pay them wages? somehow, I don't think so. For $22 he now has free labor. What's the answer for people like this?
Is this a yet another sick, pathetic joke against the U.S. citizens? Why can't we get some of these "nonprofits" to help in the U.S.? Why are we forcing our system of slavery to these people (who are dressing alot better than me, and who are alot better fed than I am)?
After 38 years, working two or three jobs at a time, I've been assaulted in the hospital, fired for "disability", barred from viable work (as far as I can tell – I ABLE to do everything that everything else does), living in abject poverty. WHERE IS THE HELP? WHY DOES THE GOVERNMENT ASK ME TO PAY BACK MY RETIREMENT, FOR THE THIRD TIME, IF I'M SO "FORTUNATE" TO FIND EMPLOYMENT?
IIneeds to bring in legislation limiting personal loan repayments to personal assets of the borrower. relatives need to be excluded.
Instead of everyone just commenting and feeling sympathetic, perhaps we should put our concern into action. If we could contact a reputable U.S. agency in India and everyone reading this article would commit to getting one family out of slavery that would make a huge difference in their lives. I know it's small and you cannot save everyone, but we can do something. What do ya say?
Steven – I agree.
Does any one know a reputable agency that actually has a presence on the ground which can make a difference here?
I would be more than glad to help some of these families escape from this. but as Dutch said in a spot aboave, just paying off the debt is not enough, these familaies then probably need to be relocated and given some support for basic shelter, food and a chance to get a job and look after themselves...
I'm with yah.
Alimony is slavery. It clearly violates the 13th amendment of the United States constitution. It is involuntary servitude but I don't see CNN ever talking about it. I have asked lawyers and judges to explain how it does not violate the 13th amendment and no one can explain it. That is because it is a crime and one of the worst crimes of all. The only crime worse than slavery is genocide and the state and local governments of America are engaged in it. The only thing the victim is guilty of is studying hard in school and having the wrong physical appendages on their bodies.
I just saw your posts on Thursday. Incredible ρoints. I needed this.
The answer to that one is to avoid marriage in the first place. Alimony in 2011 is ridiculous anyway - jobs are tough to find right now, but that doesn't excuse anyone from trying. Anyone not having the sense to keep up their job skills deserves what they get IMO. But it's not slavery. I paid child support (didn't have those appendages either), and yes, I had to worry about keeping my job since unemployment doesn't get you out of it - but being a responsible parent, I would have worried about it anyway. I chose to have children, and as such chose to support them. CHOICE is not slavery.
why dont the well to do professional indians in America sponsor a family in debt and pay it off? 150.00 debt and generation after generation is enslaved. Come on. And Indian in America knows exactly how the cast system works, so work thru the system or your own ignorance in believing it must exist. you enslave your own??? wow, pretty messed up.
No wonder corporate America likes Indian workers. They're used to being slaves already.
Yeah i can understand ur hard feelings. no use of calling indians slaves.they r skilled & the living expense in india are much low. Let the americans cut short their expenses and work better rather than blaming others.
I did not say Child Support Southern Suze, I said Alimony. I agree everyone should take care of their children. But Alimony clearly violates the 13th amendment. It is involutary servitude to another grown-up adult. Please someone step up to the plate and give any legitimate excuse of how Alimony is not involuntary servitude.
Keep up the amazing quality writing, it is rare to see a nice website like this one these days. I am sure this article will touch all who read it.
Just like I thought. No one can argue for the case of Alimony because it is illegal. This is the fear that the lawyers and judges around America have always had. Beneath their arrogance and view that they are above the law and untouchable. With revolution taking place in other countries around the world they know if this discussion is brought to the table they can't defend alimony as legal and billions of slave wages will go just as the slave economy did down south. Just as Ellen Degeneres asked straight people to stand up for DADT she along with Oprah and our president should be asked where they stand on this issue. Strom Thurmon immortalized his position on segregation. Let these people state their position just as Thurmond did. Where are you CNN?
CNN Freedom project. Take an unbiased, fact based, constitutional look at Alimony. All of the evidence has been carfully documented in court. If a victim refuses to pay it they will be assaulted by slave catchers and be wrongfully imprisoned. If they try to defend themselves then they will be killed. Not much different than Kunta Kinte. Only today is much more efficient. At least Southern Slaves could flee to the north via the underground railroad. But not today. If you are an Alimony slave in America you are tracked everywhere you work. And don't give me that excuse saying it is a choice to work. That is just like saying it is OK to throw a gas canister in a room and locking people in it an claiming, "we did'nt force anyone to breathe". You must work in order to eat and if you work you will be an Alimony slave if you have been captured in that net.
Does the CNN Freedom project support Alimony slavery? Or does the CNN Freedom project selectively turn a blind Eye to it?
The CNN Freedom project eagerly points out illegal slave trafficking, human trafficking, sex slave trafficking in 3rd world countries. The irony is that those actions are illegal in those 3rd world countries. Even though those countries do not spend the resources necessery to stop it those forms of slavery are clearly illegal in those countries. But in the United States of America the alimony slavery is STATE SANCTIONED!. We know better. We tell other countries to "do as we say and not as we do". That is why they see us as the United States of Hypocracy.
What is even most ironic is that We in America have an African American President!. Why is no one asking this question to him? He has more slavery under his rule than did most of the pre-Civil War Presidents. If the news media can ask a sitting president if an intern gave him a blowjob, why can't they ask him to exlpain how Alimony does not violate the 13th amendment of the US Constitution?
George Bush Jr. came from the Oil industry. When gasoline was over 5 dollars a gallon he did not seem to mind. His only solutions was to drill more, which would make the oil companies richer. He was rightfully criticized for protecting his industry. Our current president comes from the Judicial Industry. Is he going to hold lawyers and judges accountable for their involvement in Alimony Slavery? Why is the CNN Freedom Project or any other news outlet asking this question?
Someone is lucky enough to work and they call it slavery. The conditions he lives in are norm for that country. India isn't the USA.
Sara S, you should have paid the 20$ debt of the woman with the 5 year old daughter brick layer & take out of the situation. One thing to report another to not even try to rescue on life one family. Freedom project should raise awareness but rescue as well.
I would venture to say 100% of the respondents to this article live in economic slavery (translate: they need to work to make a living rather than choose to work to purely make a difference). Over 97% of the world lives in slavery with just the illusion of freedom (the US is no exception, don't believe me? Try and not pay your credit card bill and see what happens).
Even so-called literate Westerners fall for the debt-trap again and again. Mortgage, credit cards, student loans, etc... of which 3% of the world live off the backs of the 97%.
Slavery has always existed for as long as humans have failed to see the true value in other human beings. Even those in slavery denigrade each other because they do not feel they slaves or are not aware of the economic shackles they wear.
You can be a slave as a poor brick maker in India or a slave as a millionaire on Wall Street, both can be restricted from doing what they want or reaching their true potential. One may be poor and the other rich, but both are denied from leading a truly wealthy life.
Those landlords and builders should be brought in front of the law.
It is a crime.
And how can the U.S. compete in a global market when many countries have "free" labor, just like India. Hunger and desperation = I'll do anything to survive.
After going through the article & these comments one thing is clear, US citizens are worried about job outsourcing. Well its upto the companies and they can have their job done in 1/10 of the expenditure with indians when compared to americans. naturally the companies will choose the better option.
Another thing is that i've read some people wrote that US should stop all dealings with these types of countries where the workers are treated in a brutal way. It happens everywhere not only in india,but yes may be more % in india compared to US. But what if,,if the US govt: stops all cooperation with these countries. This is not possible at all.
During recent india visit Obama signed a deal worth $20 billion between 2 countries,which in turn will create 54000 jobs
in US according to him.All this was said and done despite the restriction on outsourcing from India. US alone cant stand
without cooperation with other countries . None can blame any of the countries. All have its own problems.
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In case anyone is interested, here's a list of some reputable charitable organizations that fight this kind of terrible injustice:
-Dalit Freedom Network : End Dalit trafficking, make slavery history. http://www.dalitnetwork.org/
-Free the Slaves : Working to end slavery worldwide. http://www.freetheslaves.net/
-The Advocates for Human Rights : Promoting and protecting internationally recognized human rights. http://www.theadvocatesforhumanrights.org/
-Equality Now : Working to end violence and discrimination against women and girls around the world. http://www.equalitynow.org
And there are others, of course. Take action. Make a donation. I believe we can make a difference.
The more things change the more they remain the same. Nearly 20 years ago I had this article of mine on bonded labour in India in the New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/1993/04/08/opinion/08iht-edbi_0.html
Well looks like it continues to be business as usual after all these years. A sad reality of how little has changed for the poor in what has been one of the fastest growing economies in the world.
Where can I go to pay off some of these debts? The low amounts of these debts is ridiculous and don't no where justify what is happening. I for one, would be willing to spend my own money if I could go over there and pay the debts off directly to these SOBs, with the assurance that the people could leave.
What is done in USA if you dont pay your debt? What is the housing mortage crisis about? In many countries, a person can be jailed for not paying back the loan.If You take a loan and then Work to pay off debt ! CNN thinks its Slavery?
Wake up people. Society needs to change as a whole and get off this monetary based ideology. Do some research and really look at what is causing the problems. http://www.thezeitgeistmovement.com/The%20Zeitgeist%20Movement.pdf
I see nothing wrong with working to pay off a debt, but these small debts should have been long ago paid off. These are the kinds of things that will keep India from advancing as a nation.
It is so funny he doesn't use the word slavery because he must have some one in his home working for him
and here is the thing he is leader and he knows the problem and poverty why they can't change the law ???/ because they liked to be served...
As I said before, India's democracy is the biggest joke in this world. But Indians never stop selling its "democracy" to others.
You really cleared this question up for me. On a scale going from 1 to 10. You're an 11! Your content probably saved my marriage. Might you have any moreuseful hints? While this might go against what I've seen, I am going to go ahead and try it out then I I'll share what happens. Have you tried your theory?
I work in an office where when out on assignment, not even my husband can visit and stay the night in my hotel room. I have no life outside the office work. Slavery at the workplace!
Imagine your Uncle or great grand father borrowning the equilivant of $150US and from then on the entire family has been working to try and repay the debt with no knowledge of how much was borrowed or how much is left to be paid off. How long can that go on? As long as the system allows it to go on. What would these people do if they did not have this work, starve and be homeless? Do they even know how to make money to earn food, shelter, or inprove their conditions. Where is the government that should be taking care of these illegal activities and bringing knowledge to those that deserve it?
its so bad
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People have been taking a stand against slavery for centuries. It's still here.
All of you who are bickering who is an idiot and who is not are idiots all together! Your bickering and name calling is not helping those people. Why don't you stand up and actually do something! What is wrong with all of you. This is not one country sticking its nose in another country's business, it should be people helping people.
What Happend To The Universal Of The Declaration Of Human Rights ? Why Doesnt Anyone Change This Terrible Thing People Are Doing ? So Much Questions But No Answers 🙁 , But My School (Including Me) Are Trying To Raise As Much Of Money As We Can To Help Them, Or Atleast One So We Can Change Their Life !
When will the Universal Declaration of Human Rights address alimony? Alimony is pure slavery plain and simple. Where does America get off chastising other countries on slavery when it is guilty of it. That is why some people refer to America as "The United States of Hypocrisy". America was touting the all men are created equal from the days of the Declaration of Idependence in 1776 until the Emancipation Proclamation. Now America is doing the same thing all over again. America has the nerve to complain about slavery and human rights violations in other countries when alimony clearly violates the 13th amendment of the US constitution. Shame on CNN for not reporting on this.
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Generations pay off debts through slavery – The CNN Freedom Project: Ending Modern-Day Slavery – CNN.com Blogs This can be a set of phrases, not an essay. you might be incompetent
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