While the British had officially abolished slavery in 1833, new novel ways were found to circumvent this ‘inconvenience’, by many. So, in place of slavery, came a more conveniently ‘legitimate’ form of labour acquisition. This was both an economic and political move, as the Indian people were more likely to bend to their employer's needs, lessening the influence of the local emancipated slave labour, from then on.

It happened with the help of arkatiyas or Indian middlemen, who recruited poor peasants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar with a promise of a better life. These newly recruited labourers were made to sign these agreements which confirmed their participation, of their own free will.