COMPLAINTS GALORE: Labourers rescued from a brick kiln at Hosahodya village in Kolar district on Tuesday. — Photo: K. Gopinathan

BANGALORE: The Department of Labour, accompanied by the revenue authorities, the police and non-governmental organisations, on Tuesday rescued 26 migrant labourers from Orissa who were working under inhuman conditions at a brick kiln in Hosahodya village of Kolar district, 80 km from here.

The department officials found that the labourers were paid around Rs. 3,000 each as advance payment. The labourers, including four children aged between 6 and 17, were not given proper shelter or water, and were beaten and kept locked during their free time.

All the labourers are from Barapudugia and Ambapali villages of Balangir district, and Brahamanipali village of Puintala district in Orissa.

The raid was conducted following a report by Action Aid, a non-governmental organisation, on the harassment suffered by Debara Bharasagar, a resident of Brahamanipali who ran away from the kiln.

A team of the Association for Promoting Social Action(APSA) and South India Cell for Human Rights Education and Monitoring visited the site and alerted the Labour department.

A department team led by Deputy Labour Commissioner (Region-2), Bangalore, Vasantkumar N. Hittanagi, raided the place, and rescued the labourers.

The owner of the kiln Chennappagowda is absconding.

The labourers said they had come to the kiln hoping that they would get good money to tackle poverty in their villages.

They were sent to Bangalore by Kalakanhu Bariha, a "sardar," six months ago. They were earning Rs. 200 a day for making 20,000 bricks and this sum was deducted from the advance amount. Once a week, the owner gave them Rs. 200 to buy foodgrains.

The labourers complained that the kiln owner beat both men and women with rods and made them work for long hours.

Drinking water was given once a week. No water was provided for bath or washing purposes, they said.

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