NGO rescues 39 bonded labourers from Vittal

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, December 1: The Bangalore-based International Justice Mission (IJM) in collaboration with the district administration of DK and the DK police has freed 39 bonded labourers who were working in a granite quarry in Vittal and has produced them in the DC’s AC Court on Dec 1, Wednesday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assistant Commissioner Prabhulinga Kavalakatti told reporters that the NGOs were not able to identify the exact location of the factory. Finally, the name of the place was revealed to them this morning and the district administration authorities and police officers accompanied the NGOs to the place, raided the granite quarry, which belongs to the THM Stone Quarry owned by Abdul Haji, the son of Abbas Haji of Ukkuda in Vittal, and freed the workers.

Fifteen of the 50 – 60 labourers working at the factory said that they were paid well and had no problems working there; however 39 labourers said that they were working against their will. Since the owner would not pay them their wages, but would fine them for mistakes committed, it cannot be considered to be bonded labour, said Kavalikatti. He also said that these labourers, who hailed from Mysore, Tamil Nadu, and Kollegal, were not allowed to go home from nearly 6 years. Some of them were children. The IJM and the district administration will take care of these bonded labourers while an enquiry is conducted, he said. Any medical facilities that these labourers might require will be provided to them, he assured.

NGO Case Worker Director Esther Daniel said that these labourers were not given any freedom of employment, wages, medical facilities, and food. She said that the NGO had been making attempts to trace them for nearly one month. Around 30 NGOs had participated in the rescue operation. The enquiry is to be held today, said IJM social worker Robert.

Mahadev of Kanakapura near Bangalore, one of the bonded labourers, said that they hadn’t been given any medical facility from 5 years. He had informed his friends, who had in turn contacted the NGO and requested them to rescue the labourers. Speaking about his experiences, Mahadev said that the owner used to pay Rs 250 per week and 1 – 2kgs of rice per family. His father Rangaswamy was working in the factory for the past 9 years.

Another labourer said that women were not permitted to go to the hospital for delivery and a nurse would come to take care of them. A writer called Sanjeeva used to supervise the workers and scold them even if they were late by 5 minutes. Most of the time, the workers had to sleep without food; and although they were given water, the entire family had to use it carefully, otherwise they would be fined Rs. 5000, he said.

Some of the rescued labourers are Shrinivas, Naveen, Ramesh, Rama, Lakshman, Surya, Chandraiah, Raja, Rajamma, and Mallige. There were 12 children in the group too.