SLAVES IN INDIA

Evening Star, Issue 22525, 18 December 1936, Page 12

SLAVES IN INDIA

FINAL STRONGHOLDS GOVERNMENT PRESSURE Governmental pressure on the last remaining strongholds of slavery in India is still being maintained, says a writer from Simla to the ‘ Christian Science Monitor.’ At the same time a good deal of dissatisfaction is being expressed at what is considered to be the rather “ weak ” policy of the Government of India towards the suppression of slavery in certain Indian States. A year ago the League’s anti-slavery experts specifically asked the British authorities “ whether it might be possible to consider the desirability of obtaining from the Indian States under the suzerainty of bis Brittanic Majesty, in' which slavery might still exist, a declaration of their intention of taking action as soon as- possible for its suppression in their territory.” The experts also felt that a declaration by those States ■ which had already taken such steps would be “ of the greatest value.” , In a recent reply to the League the Government of India takes the line that it has not been able to call upon the Indian States as suggested—“ for constitutional and other reasons. It recalls that immediately after the conclusion of the League’s anti-slavery convention of 1926—which now binds 43 Governments—it brought its provisions to the notice of all Indian States so as to bring them to the position accepted for British India. SIMPLE PROCEDURE. Since then, the Government adds, active steps have been-, taken to ensure that those Indian States which have not already done so shall enact legislation giving effect to the convention. They have, in fact, been' advised to adopt the legislation in force in British India because the States generally are familiar with British Indian legislation as a model for their own enactments. The Government adds that it is ‘ confident ” that if the States were advised to adopt more elaborate machinery, this “ would only lead to delay, and prove to be less effective than the measures which have already been taken.” _ Manwhile, enlightened legislation by the Nizam of Hyderabad freeing certain serfs known as “ bhagelas ” is announced. These people have hitherto been kept by . the big land owners in the northern portions of the Nizam s dominions “ in employment under traditional conditions which excluded a fair wage and freedom of contract.” _ _ They usually got into that position on account of debts owing to their masters. An officer, whose services have been bon owed from the Bombay Presidency, has been specially charged to supervise .the working of the new regulations. The main provisions of the new regulations lay down that for every bhagela agreement still in force, after one year, all the stipulated labour shall be deemed to have been duly performed, the cash advance or principal and interest to have been repaid, and the debt and interest to have been discharged. Any bhagela agreement entered into after the new regulations becomes void if it fails to fulfil various conditions. Thus, its terms must be set out in a legal document, a copy of it delivered by the lender to the borrower, the period of labour to be performed in return for monetary assistance must not exceed one -year, the agreement must state that after that period all liability in respect of such advance is extinguished, and it must provide for a fair rate of remuneration for the labour and reasonable hours of service. In any case, the rate of interest under a bhagela agreement must not exceed 6 per cent. From nearby Burma comes news or renewed anti-slavery activity directed against the Naga Hills. When signing the anti-slavery convention Burma made a reservation in regard to this wild tract of country over which its administration had not been extended, and where it could not therefore promise to abolish slavery. - . As the result of five expeditions between 1927 and 1931 the Hukawng Valley and the North and South Triangle were brought under the direct administration of the Government of Burma, and slavery “ ceased for the time being ” in all the villages visited during these years. Reports brought back by the expeditions revealed that the number of slaves remaining in the Naga Hills is “ very small.” Owing to their expense, however. these annual expeditions were discontinued in 1932 during the period of retrenchment The possibility of withdrawing Burma’s reservation to.the anti-slavery convention is now being discussed by the two Governments. It is expected to follow as soon as the Naga position has been clarified.