Chennai: The Vellore district administration rescued six bonded labourers including a child from a brick kiln in Kaniyambadi in the district on Friday.
A total of six labourers and one child were rescued after four years in bondage, while the brick kiln owner was not present at the scene.
Based on a tip-off by the Released Bonded Labourers Association ( RBLA) that a family from Vellore was forced into slavery, Vellore district collector Megharaj, members of RBLA and the police conducted an inspection at a brick Klin in Kaniyambadi on Friday morning, rescuing the family. The family had received an advance of Rs 10,000 from the owner four years ago. He paid each family a menial wage less than Rs 500 a month. They had to work 16 hours a day. Their movement was restricted. The labourers were not allowed to leave the facility even during family functions and festivals. They were not allowed to go to the hospital when they were sick. The labourers reported verbal and physical abuse at the worksite,” said a source.A case has been filed according to the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act 1976 and police have launched a search for the owner.
