Seven bonded labourers rescued

Chennai:

Seven bonded labourers were rescued from a tree cutting unit in Kayar Village in Chengalpattu taluk of Kanchipuram district by revenue divisional officer G Chellappa and activists of International Justice Mission on Friday.

The RDO told Express on Saturday that following a complaint by activists from IJM, a rescue operation was conducted in Kayar village and the labourers were rescued.

IJM sources said the operator of the tree cutting unit, Nargunam, paid the labourers approximately Rs 50 per person, per day, which is below the Tamil Nadu Minimum Wage of Rs 136.02 per day.

The labourers were made to work for more than 12 hours each day. The unit owner also denied the labourers freedom of movement and freedom to work outside the facility.

Immediately following the rescue operation, the district administration conducted an enquiry into the facility’s labour practices and found that the seven bonded labourers were victims of illegal forced labour practices.

The RDO then issued release certificates to the bonded labourers, officially identifying them as victims of bonded labour and entitling them to government rehabilitation funds.

Meanwhile, RDO has lodged criminal complaint against the owner of Nargunam Tree Cutting Unit. The complaint included sections 9,16,17,18,20 of the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act 1976, Section 370,374 and 341 of the Indian Penal Code 1860 and Section 14 of the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act 1986.