Mangalore: Suspected ‘Bonded Labourers’ from Stone Quarry at Vittal Rescued
Pics: Savitha B R
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (PS/SB)
Mangalore Dec 1: As many as 50 ‘bonded labourers’, including 11 females and their 17 children were rescued from a laterite stone quarry owned by Abdul Haji, son of Abbas Haji situated in Vittal on Wednesday December 1. They were rescued on the complaint of the International Justice Mission and as per the superintendent of police Dr Subrahmanyeshwar Rao's direction.
While representatives of the IJM informed mediapersons and some of the rescued laborers also told that they were forced to work in the quarry by just paying them pittance each week of Rs 100 not as payment but as money to buy food for survival. They were not even allowed to move around. They were also not allowed to go to their native places like Mysore, Kollegal and Tamilnadu from past six years.
Assistant commissioner Prabhulinga Kavalakatti claimed they cannot be labeled as bonded labourers unless the court hearing procedures are over. They will be sent back to their respective villages after the medical check up is done and till then food and accommodatione will provided, he added.
It is said that when the team reached the quarry premises some refused to come and one women said that she does not want to come until her husband agrees to move out of the place with her. It was also surprising to observe that some said that they were happy and provided with all facilities, hence they do not want to quit that work. Parvathi (45) among those rescued labour is suffering from abdomen tumour while a girl child Lavanya (8) has a hand injury.
However, the quarry is said to be possessing license. The AC said that a formal letter will be written only after the enquiry is done.
Speaking to mediapersons, Esther Daniel, director of case work of International Justice Mission said that accordingly, the rehabilitation package provided by the state government for the freed bonded labourers includes the major components like allotment of house site and agricultural land, training for acquiring new skills, developing existing skills, wage employment, enforcement of minimum wages and education for children among others.