Chennai: 16 bonded laboureres rescued from brick kiln

Chennai: After initiating two bonded labour rescues on Friday at Elumichampet village in Chengalpet, Chengalpet revenue divisonal officer D. Muthuvadivel, along with the DSP and tahsildar Varadarajan rescued 16 bonded labourers from another brick kiln in the vicinity on Saturday, on information from labourers rescued on Friday.

The follow up inquiry and surprise check at other brick kilns in the vicinity revealed that the 10 brick kilns in the area were unauthorized and did not possess license. Though there were no bonded labourers found in other brick kilns, they were seized on grounds of violations regarding unauthorized possession of the kiln and encroachment of government property on Saturday.

The rescue of bonded labourers was initiated on a case referral by the Released Bonded Labour Association members in Kancheepuram.  The rescued labourers have been given release certificates and the

“Based on the information provided by the bonded labourers from a brick kiln in Elumichampet, we carried surprise check at around 10 brick kilns in the area. Sixteen bonded labourers, including two women and two children below 18.

“Their advance amount was only Rs 3,000 and they were being paid less than the minimum wages expected,” said Chengalpet revenue divisonal officer D Muthuvadivel.

“The 10 brick kilns were sealed as they failed to produce the required licence documents and were also found to encroach upon government land near the brick kiln. The engines have also been seized,” he added.