In 1986 the founder president of IDA, Mr. Anjum Raza Mattu, a field worker in State Life Insurance Company, visited a brick kiln with his co-workers for the life insurance of workers or owner. The brick kiln workers began to weep bitterly before them and requested to release them from the hardships and loans of the kiln owner. They also explained how they spent almost their whole life with the family working on the kiln just to return their loans but there was no decrease in the loans. They were deprived of their fundamental rights of freedom of movement, choice of job, access to basic social services, and subjected to extreme forms of physical, mental and sexual abuse. Learning about their plight the field worker Mr. Anjum and his team decided to work for the protection of the rights of bonded labourers. His aspiration to help the poor and downtrodden in his community later forced his to work for the Bonded labour Liberation Front (BLLF) Pakistan.
After getting registration in 2002 IDA worked with the District Govt. to introduce adult literacy centers on the brick kiln localities and facilitated the District Govt. for registration of kilns and implementation of bonded labour abolition act in 8 brick kilns near Sahiwal. IDA’s greatest strength has been its network of voluntary members, who have been contributing funds every month from their salaries since the last many years to support IDA and have been working for the organisation with complete devotion. The President of IDA spent two stints of 6 and 3 months in jail on false cases instigated by kiln owners. His time in jail and subsequent release had a great positive impact on the workers’ movement, and forced the district administration to support the labourers rather than the kiln workers as had been the past practice. IDA has now become a model for organisations working for the rights of labourers in the country.
Vision:
To organize a human rights violation free society where there is a role of law through the socio- economic and behavioral change by the participatory approach in formation dissemination to the grass root level.
Mission:
Our mission is to serve as institute for advancing human rights for everyone and everywhere by strengthening Democracy and Justice and elimination of all forms of bonded & child labour and end discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression through participatory approach of the people.
The ultimate goal of IDA is to eliminate the system of bonded and child labor in Pakistan and improve the conditions of bonded laborers and their families. Its specific objectives are:
•To create a mass awareness regarding different aspects of poverty and violence in the society and its consequences
•To empower women councilors and local government system in Pakistan
•To explore ways and means in order to enhance the Human rights situation of women community in the area.
•To contribute in the productive role of women in socio-cultural, economic and political spheres in Pakistan
•To provide the free primary education to the working children.
•To provide the free legal aid to bonded labour community & reduce the women violence.
•To carrying out and launch various community need based initiatives/projects regarding human rights and development with the active and participatory involvement of the grass root people.
•To eliminate the bonded labour system in Pakistan.
•To create the better atmosphere for working women.
•To provide the social security cards to bonded labourers of Pakistan.
•To provide the facility for making the CNICs and votes of bonded labourers of Pakistan.
•To provide the awareness about gender equality through.
