The Orissa state government formally declares at least 17 persons freed from 'hereditary bonded labour', a social justice possibly never done before in the country.The Puri district administration is currently preparing 'certificates' to be handed over to these men of barber caste from Bramhagiri area, who were bound by the age-old practice of what is locally called 'Bartan'.
The practice mandated them to wash the feet of guests during social functions in villages in lieu of about 15 kgs of paddy per annum.

The Bartan victims would be declared released through the certificates soon," said a senior district official.

As per the law, each person will be given Rs 1,000, along with the certificate and Rs 19,000 later by the government towards the cost of their rehabilitation.

Human rights activist, who waged the battle for ending the practice a decade ago, for which he was also jailed.

"India by March 31, 2009 has identified, released and rehabilitated 2,88,098 debt-bonded labourers, the highest being in Tamilnadu (65,573), followed by Karnataka (63,437 identified, 57,185 rehabilitated) and Odisha (50,029 identified, 46,901 rehabilitated). But the Centre has no knowledge about hereditary or caste-based bonded labour existing in the country.

In Odisha alone there could be more than five lakh various kinds of bonded labourers at present. We have submitted a memorandum to the President of India, signed by 267 people from various walks of life from all over the country for a special survey to identify and release bonded labourers," he added.

Pattanaik's battle began when in 2002 some barbers in Bramhagiri area refused to wash the feet of guests on a family occasion, sparking severe tension in the area. They were not only physically assaulted by the upper caste people but also ostracized in the village. Many of them, unable to bear the brunt of caste violence, had deserted their homes.

Pattanaik took up their case at every forum -- the district administration, state government, national human rights commission (NHRC) and high court. In 2005, while leading a protest rally on the issue, the state government arrested Pattanaik in Bhubaneswar and put him in jail for 110 days.

The breakthrough in the long-drawn social battle came in July 2008 when the NHRC declared 'Bartan' a manifestation of bonded labour and directed the state government to initiate steps for the release and rehabilitation of the victims.

But the government kept dillydallying on the matter by instituting inquiries by