Chennai: As many as 42 persons from 13 families, including 16 children, were rescued by Revenue officials of Vellore and Kancheepuram districts on Wednesday. Sources said the families have been working in woodcutting units in various parts in the two districts for more than five years.
Sub Collector Elambahavath (Ranipet) said, "Based on a tip-off that families from Tamil Nadu were forced into slavery, the Vellore revenue officials and the local police conducted a surprise inspection on a wood cutting unit in Nemili and rescued the families. Each family had received an advance amount ranging from Rs 9,000 to Rs 25,000 from the owner and they had been working in the woodcutting unit for several years to repay the money they borrowed".
Sources said they paid each family a menial wage of Rs 300 a month. They were exploited day and night in the mill."Their movement was restricted. The labourers were not allowed to leave the facility during family functions and festivals. They were not allowed to go to the hospital when they were sick. The labourers reported verbal and physical abuse at the worksite," said a source.
The team rescued 14 people, including six children, of five families from a woodcutting unit at Paruvamedu village in Nemili a taluk in Vellore district. Similarly, a team led by Kancheepuram sub-collector A Saravanan conducted an inspection at a wood cutting unit in Konnerikuppam village in Kancheepuram. On seeing Revenue officials, the bonded labourers fell on their feet and begged to be freed. The officials rescued 27 people including 10 children, of eight families. The families have been working as bonded labourers for 3-7 years.
The rescued bonded labourers are awaiting their Release Certificates from the Revenue Divisional Offices, 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.
