Five years of efforts by The Freedom Fund to end modern slavery in India are showing positive results.

The Freedom Fund has invested $15.8 million in more than 40 front-line NGOs, based in areas of northern and southern India that it designates “hot spots.” The goal is to put an end to forced labor in those regions. A recent report on the initiative shows progress: In five years, the number of households in bonded labor plummeted from 56% to 11%. That’s the equivalent of 125,000 people released from modern-day slavery. On this episode, we learn about the group’s on-the-ground strategy from managing director Amol Mehra. He talks about the types of “interventions” that have been undertaken to free workers in locations such as spinning mills, garment factories, and brick kilns and quarries. He discusses the potential obstacles that participating NGOs face from local government and employers. And he stresses the need for international brands, many of whom source production in India, to get on board with the program. Hosted by Bob Bowman, Editor-in-Chief of SupplyChainBrain.

Show notes:

A report on The Freedom Fund’s program to end bonded labor in India.