The Women Safety Wing (WSW) of Telangana Police, in partnership with the International Justice Mission (IJM), organized a State-Level Convergence Workshop on combating human trafficking related to bonded labour at Marigold Hotel, Begumpet, Hyderabad on 18th April 2026. The workshop witnessed participation from over 200 delegates including senior government officials, police officers, judiciary members, legal experts, media representatives and civil society organizations to discuss emerging trends and strengthen coordinated action against human trafficking and bonded labour.
The inaugural session was attended by Sri B. Shivadhar Reddy, IPS, Director General of Police, Telangana, Ms. Charu Sinha, IPS, Additional Director General of Police, Women Safety Wing, and Smt. D. Anasuya Seethakka, Hon’ble Minister for Women and Child Welfare. The workshop featured focused discussions on evolving patterns in human trafficking, bonded labour and sex trafficking, identifying bonded labour as a hidden and under-reported form of organized crime that requires immediate attention.
Addressing the participants, DGP Sri B. Shivadhar Reddy emphasized that bonded labour is not merely a labour issue but a coercive organized crime where victims are lured through false promises and trapped in exploitative conditions. He stated that the State Police should focus on proactive identification of victims, strong investigations, and ensure convictions using modern technology. The DGP highlighted the need for external intervention as victims are often unable to escape on their own.
ADGP Ms. Charu Sinha pointed out that anti-trafficking discourse often overlooks adult bonded labour and stressed three key priorities including recognizing debt bondage as a criminal offence, strengthening investigations across the entire chain of exploitation and ensuring a survivor-centric approach focused on dignity and safety. She clarified that bonded labour is not a contract but coercion, often overlapping with trafficking offences where the core issue is exploitation through force, fraud, or coercion rather than movement.
Smt. Anita Ramachandran, IAS, Secretary, Women and Child Development Department, underscored that rescue alone is insufficient without sustainable rehabilitation, noting that lack of support systems often leads victims back into exploitative conditions. The Member Secretary of Telangana State Legal Services Authority emphasized the judiciary’s role in enforcing constitutional protections and recognizing non-payment of minimum wages as a form of forced labour.
In her keynote address, Smt. Seethakka, Hon’ble Minister for Panchayati Raj & Rural Development, Rural Water Supply, Women & Child Welfare, outlined that while having laws is important, effective implementation is more crucial. She stressed on the need to treat victims of bonded labour from other states with equal empathy and dignity and emphasized the importance of strengthening local livelihoods, Self-Help Groups and community systems to reduce vulnerability to trafficking and bonded labour crimes.
Telangana State Labour Minister Mr. Vivek Venkataswamy stated that bonded labour severely undermines human dignity and its eradication requires collective effort from the government, civil society organizations and the public. He appreciated the role of NGOs in identifying victims, creating awareness and supporting rehabilitation. The minister urged strengthening awareness at the grassroots level so people understand their rights and avoid falling into exploitative systems while ensuring strict enforcement of laws to deliver justice for victims.
A defining moment of the workshop was the testimony shared by survivor leader Smt. Shivamma of TRILINGA, underscoring the urgent need for survivor-led interventions and community-based prevention. She called for the recognition of February 9 as Bonded Labour System Abolition Day in Telangana to strengthen public awareness and collective action. The workshop concluded with emphasis on multi-stakeholder coordination, capacity building and sustained policy engagement, reaffirming Telangana’s commitment to eliminating human trafficking and bonded labour through a comprehensive and collaborative approach.
