Other States - Orissa   

26 freed from bonded labour

Staff Reporter

BERHAMPUR: Twenty-six persons, including women and children of eight families of alleged bonded labourers, were rescued from a brick kiln at Charikonia village by Bhanjanagar police station on Friday.

These labourers were from Brahmanpalli village of Subarnapur district.

Police swung into action on a tip off by the Collector of Subarnapur after a worker from the brick kiln had escaped and informed the Subarnapur district administration about the plight of his fellowmen.

Circle Inspector Subas Chandra Jamadar led the raid on the brick kiln and three owners of this kiln were taken into custody. Assistant Labour Officer, Surendranath Das said labour department and police were investigating the contract signed between the labour families and the owners of the brick kiln.

The owners of the brick kiln claimed that they paid advances of Rs 8,000 to each family and got contract papers signed before getting them to Ganjam district. But only three of the rescued families have signed contract papers. Rescued labourers alleged that they were contacted through a dubious labour contractor, who promised them good pay along with free food and shelter at their work site.

The rescued labourer families alleged that they had to face physical, mental and sexual harassment at the hands of their employers.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Taking a lead role against violence
Poachers' network busted
In pursuit of building a dream library
All set for Rajarani music fest
Pharma major opens two pathology labs
New Democracy tastes success in panchayat polls
26 freed from bonded labour
Rs. 8 lakhs looted from two traders
Reforms in State matriculation exam

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu