The Tiruvallur District Administration, with the help of the International Justice Mission (IJM), rescued seven bonded labourers from a brick kiln near Avadi here recently.
These labourers had been brought from villages in Vellore and Tiruvannamalai districts to Chennai by agents on payment of ` 20,000 per couple.
Alice Sukanya, director- Case Work, International Justice Mission, who has been involved in the rescue and the rehabilitation of bonded labourers said, “On information that bonded labourers had been employed at the Maruti Brick Chamber at Morai near Avadi, we tipped off the Ambattur RDO, Shanmugam, who informed the police, besides making other arrangements to rescue them.”
When a team of officials led by the RDO, along with volunteers of IJM arrived at the Maruti Brick Chamber, they found most of the bonded labourers in a state of resigned acceptance of their fate. Only 10 of them came forward to explain their plight and wanted to be rescued, Alice added.
The RDO inquired with them about their working conditions and wages and assured them that they would immediately be provided with a release certificate along with `1,000, and the balance amount of `19,000 within six months’ time, as per the Bonded Labour (Abolition) Act.
Murugamma, one of the rescued bonded labourers, said that her work used to begin at 11 pm and go on till she and her husband finished making 1,000 bricks.
For every 1,000 bricks, they were paid `60, and were told that the remaining amount would be used to balance out the overdues.
Speaking to City Express from her village Veeranampatti in Vellore, Murugamma said, “I am planning to buy some cows and start dairy business. I hope the relief money will come soon. There are many others like us living in bondage,” she said.
Jayapal (55) of the same village, who was rescued, said, “I am lucky to have escaped, but my brother and his wife are still trapped.””
Ambattur RDO Shanmugam said, “I am happy we were able to help. I am sure the rest of the money will be paid soon to them, so that they can start a new life.”
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