Chamarajanagar’s Deputy Commissioner, Shilpa Nag, has issued a stern directive to officials: promptly assess the social and economic status of recently liberated bonded laborers across the district and submit a comprehensive report within a week.
During a crucial district-level SC and ST Awareness and Vigilance Committee meeting held on Friday, September 26, 2025, Ms. Nag expressed deep concern over the plight of 253 freed bonded laborers in Chamarajanagar. She highlighted that some individuals, liberated in Chamarajanagar and Gundlupet taluks, had tragically passed away, while others still awaited basic identity cards and release certificates – vital documents for their reintegration and access to aid.
The Commissioner emphasized the immediate need to identify suitable land, demarcate it, and hand it over to these liberated individuals. Recalling previous discussions where urgent action on land allocation was stressed, Ms. Nag warned that any further delays in delivering justice would be unacceptable. She clarified that if government land isn’t available, the necessary land must be acquired through purchase, with prices set by the jurisdictional Assistant Commissioner.
Expressing regret over the significant delays in providing crucial support to these freed laborers, the Deputy Commissioner urged officials to accelerate all related processes without further hesitation.
Furthermore, she directed that if any land allocated to these liberated bonded laborers is currently occupied by other individuals, immediate steps must be taken to evict encroachers and clear the property. Issuing title deeds to all beneficiaries is also a top priority.
Ms. Nag has given Assistant Commissioners, Tahsildars, and Land Records Department officials a strict deadline of one week to submit a detailed status report. She underscored that all these critical tasks must be completed before the Committee’s next meeting, scheduled for October 13.
The meeting also addressed the devastating Sulwadi poisoning tragedy of 2018, which claimed numerous lives. Ms. Nag mandated that health camps for survivors be organized quarterly. These regular screenings are essential to monitor for any delayed complications arising from the poisoning and ensure timely preventative care.
Chamarajanagar Superintendent of Police, B.T. Kavitha, also present, urged committee members to intensify their focus on the number of atrocity cases registered in each taluk and to closely track the progress of their investigations, ensuring accountability and swift resolution.