NHRC seeks response from Andhra, TN and Karnataka on bonded labourers

New Delhi: Taking note of media report, in which it was claimed that over three lakh migrant workers of Odisha were tied to brick kilns in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, National Human Rights Commission on Friday issued notices to the three states and sought their response.

The Commission has observed that contents of the news report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights of labourers. It issued notices to the Chief Secretaries of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka calling for a factual report within two weeks.

"They may not be able to cast their votes for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls to be held in the state on April 10 and 17 this year," the Commission said in a release.

Reportedly, these labourers are from the western districts of Odisha. They will have to work at brick kiln till mid June because they had taken loans from labour agents with the promise to work from November to June, the statement said.