Chennai: Five bonded labourers rescued from brick kiln

Chennai: Five bonded labourers were rescued from a brick kiln near Kannambadi in Vellore district on Thursday after a complaint was received by district collector S. A. Raman.

Dr P Vedhanayagi, the founder of Thendral movement, an NGO working in Ranipet, informed the collector who led an inquiry which confirmed that five individuals including a child had been working in bondage at the brick kiln for the last 13 years.

It was then confirmed that five people, including two children, were working as bonded labourers with Saravanan in Kannambadi. “We helped rescue five people and were able to hand over release certificates soon,” a representative of Thendral to Deccan Chronicle.

The five labourers, identified as Rajesh, 24, his wife, Meenakshi, 22, their son, Boopalan, Rajesh ‘s brothers Sharathkumar,15 and Govindaswamy, 19 had been working for Saravanan for the last 13 years. They are natives of the Thirumalaikodi village near the Sreepuram golden temple in Vellore district.

 “Rajesh and his family had been working with Saravanan since 2003. Their father, Velu had borrowed Rs 70,000 in advance and had been working for him till he died. His family took over after his death,” the representative said.

 The family, from the Irula community, was ill-treated and made to work for over 14 hours. Ranipet revenue divisional officer Vensusegaran ensured that all five received Rs 20,000 for initial rehabilitation. “We will ensure that they are
comfortably restored into normal life.”