Chennai: Kancheepuram revenue officials and the local police inspected a work site and rescued eleven bonded labourers, including five children, from a brick kiln in the district on Wednesday. They were natives of Nallambur village in Tindivanam.
A total of eleven labourers – three men, three women and five children – were rescued after six months in bondage. The Brick Klin owner, identified as V. Sathish (38), of Chengalpattu, has absconded.
Sources said that the rescue was made over an anonymous tip-off recieved by a district-based non-governmental organisation.
The tip-off said that three families from Tindivanam were being forced to work in horrible conditions in a brick kiln.
Kancheepuram revenue officials, with the jhelp of a team of policemen from the Palur station, conducted a surprise inspection on the brick kiln in Konanchery in Chengalpattu and found the families.
Each family had reportedly received an advance of '2 lakh from the brick kiln owner around six months ago, when they left the native village and came here. Each family got a menial wage of Rs 300 a month. They had to work 18-20 hours a day.
Moreover, their movement was restricted. They were not allowed to leave the facility during family functions and festivals.
“The labourers – even children – were not allowed to go to even the hospital when they were sick. They also reported verbal and physical abuse at the worksite,” said a source.
The rescued bonded labourers await their Release Certificates at the Revenue Divisional Office, following which they will be sent back to their home.
Rehabilitation and other important necessities like an Aadhar card, ration card, etc, will be given with the assistance of the revenue officials, sources said.
A case has been filed according to The Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act 1976 and police have launched a search for the owner of the brick kiln. RDO Muthuvel confirmed the news and said an inquiry will be held soon.
