The study Participatory Statistics to Measure Prevalence in Bonded Labour Hotspots in Tamil Nadu: Report of Preliminary Findings of the Baseline Study made by researchers of the Institute of Development Studies and Praxis Institute for Participatory Practice India aimed to estimate the prevalence of bonded labour in Tamil Nadu. The research focused on the Freedom Fund’s hotspot in Tamil Nadu and considered factors like economic status, access to healthcare, education, and alcoholism. Findings revealed that 36% of households had all family members in bonded labour, with geographical variations. Key factors contributing to bonded labour included caste, gender, and access to benefits.
Recommendations emphasise an integrated approach, targeting the prevention of health issues, equitable access to safe loans, and improvement of benefits to reduce reliance on bonded labour. While alcohol consumption was prevalent, its direct correlation with bonded labour was inconclusive. The study underscores the importance of disseminating research results for informed program activities, advocating for community-led initiatives and action research.
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