In August 2025, as a representative of Azad Shakti Abhiyan (ASA) from Bhadohi, Mr. Bachelal began a series of Community Liberation Initiative trainings organized by Free the Slaves. A survivor of exploitation and bondage himself, he joined every session with purpose—sharing his lived experience to deepen peers’ understanding of bonded labor, rights, and practical intervention.
He shared,
“Through these sessions, I developed a deeper understanding of the definitions and indicators of bonded labor, the rights of laborers, advocacy and negotiation skills, and the role of government authorities and community-based interventions in securing justice.”
This knowledge reshaped his perspective — from being a survivor of exploitation to recognizing his potential as an agent of change within his community.
A few weeks later, a family visit became a test of that learning. He recounts,
“A few weeks back, I went to a relative’s place in a nearby village. My relatives were well aware of the fact that I am associated with the Azad Shakti Abhiyan, and we work for the victims of modern slavery, especially bonded labor. Upon reaching there, I was informed that five members of the community were trapped in Karnataka working as bonded labor in a turmeric field. These five laborers were lured by a contractor in Bhadohi with fake promises and taken to a different state hundreds of kilometers away from home, where they were trapped. They were being abused verbally as well as physically, and wanted to return to their homes, but the owner was not letting them”.
What he recognized were clear indicators of bonded labor: deception at recruitment, control through threats and documents, denial of wages, and restriction of movement. As he explains,
“these kinds of people easily exploit laborers because the laborers are not aware of their rights, and they are being kept bonded, which is illegal, and they can get help from the government. The owners take advantage of the lack of awareness among the laborers and exploit them, thinking nothing will happen to them”.
He then put the training into practice—verifying facts, engaging families, and asserting rights with the employer.
“When my uncle told me about these laborers, I knew how I could help them. I met with their family members and got the contact number of one of the laborers. I called him, and he shared everything. The workers were confined to long hours, denied fair wages, and were not allowed to leave — clear indicators of bonded labor. I told him to share the owner’s contact number and I called the him up. Initially, he was not talking properly and was being very rude, but when I shared about ASA, he started responding to me properly. I explained that the conditions under which the laborers were working violated labor laws and constituted bonded labour and it is illegal, as well as punishable under various laws. I told him that if he does not let the laborers go, then we will take legal action against him. After a few rounds of conversations, he understood that I am well aware of the rights of laborers, and he cannot threaten me or try to weaken me. After a few days of follow-up calls, the laborers were released with their wages paid in full, and they returned home. Now they are back in their village and have started working on a brick kiln in their community on their own terms. I am training them slowly and gradually, and with time they will also begin working as a survivor leader in our network, ASA”.
Post-Training Impact: Strengthening Leadership and Community Protection
The impact of the training did not end with the release of the five workers. It reshaped how exploitation is understood and confronted in his community. Before, such cases were often spoken about quietly or accepted as unfortunate but unavoidable. Now, there is a clearer language for what happened — and a clearer pathway for what to do next.
For Mr. Bachelal, the trainings turned personal history into informed leadership. He moved from knowing exploitation was wrong to knowing why it was illegal, who could intervene, and how to negotiate safely and effectively. That shift is what allowed him to stand firm when confronting the employer. It is what ensured the laborers not only returned home, but returned with their wages and their dignity.
For the five workers, the difference is equally profound. They are now earning on their own terms at a brick kiln within their community — a return not just to familiar surroundings, but to autonomy. And through his ongoing mentorship, they are beginning to learn the same tools of awareness and advocacy that enabled their release. Soon, they too will be part of a local network able to recognize bonded labor early, intervene collectively, and prevent others from falling into the same trap.
This ripple effect shows why these trainings are essential. Survivor leaders already have trust, lived understanding, and the ability to identify subtle forms of coercion that outsiders might miss. When those qualities are supported with knowledge of legal rights, government mechanisms, and safe advocacy strategies, communities gain something powerful: a sustainable defense against bonded labor from within.
This is how change endures — not only through rescue, but through equipping survivors to lead, teach, and transform the systems that once made people vulnerable.
