NHRC poser to TN on rehab of rescued Odia bonded labourers

Chennai: National Human Rights Commission today sought a factual report from Tamil Nadu government in two weeks on the recent rescue of 550 bonded labourers from a brick klin in neighbouring Tiruvallur District.

Citing a report in an English daily on March 3 that the bonded labourers were freed by State authorities in Tiruvallur District, NHRC said, "if true, (bonded labourers working under inhuman conditions) it raises a serious issue of violation of human rights of the victim labourers."

Quoting the report, the Commission in a press release said that on March 2, about 550 bonded labourers including women from Odisha and Chhattisgarh, were rescued from a brick klin in Tiruvallur district. Belonging to 180 families, they were slogging under inhuman working conditions.

They were allegedly forced to work from 3 am with a meagre weekly wages Rs 400 for a family. They had allegedly been paid an advance before moving to Tamil Nadu.

Ordering notice to Secretary, Labour Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, NHRC called for a factual report within two weeks.

"The report should also specify the steps taken for rehabilitation of the bonded labourers as well as details of the payment of the release amount (financial assistance) to the bonded labourers," the Commission said.