Six bonded labourers (including five children) from Odisha were rescued from two water treatment plants in Chennai on June 21.
The Tamil Nadu State administration conducted the rescue following a tipoff from the International Justice Mission and the Bachpan Bachao Andolan as part of the latter’s India Action Campaign Against Child labour.
The six workers, five between the ages of 12 and 16 years, were brought to Tamil Nadu on the promise of safe accommodation, good pay and three square meals.
The parents had been paid an advance amount between Rs 5,000 and Rs15,000. The children were subjected to inhuman, long hours of work and not provided with any protective gear, due to which they developed skin conditions. The rescue team also found the premises to be extremely unhygienic.
After a detailed inquiry, RDO of Chennai Central Bharathi Devi issued Release Certificates to all the labourers. Both the water treatment plants were sealed by the Tehsildar of Aminjikarai. The RDO also informed the lead bank manager to open the bank accounts for all of the rescued victims on Monday for transfer of their rehabilitation amount.
An FIR was filed against the perpetrators, Chandrasekar (plant owner) , Viki and Abi (agents) under Sections 16,17,18,20 of BLSA Act, Section 370 of IPC and Section 14 (1) of Child and Adolescent Labour Act. The rescued are currently being housed at a shelter home.