BENGALURU: Labour department officials, along with Mukti, an NGO, rescued 11 bonded labourers who were working on a road construction project in Attibele, Anekal.
The labourers, including three minors, were from Wanaparthy district, Telangana, and were brought to Bengaluru by a contractor named Yakub, who works for RNS Infrastructure Company. The contractor had given a couple Rs 1 lakh and brought over 50 labourers to Bengaluru, forcing them to work on the road construction project.
The labourers were subjected to physical and mental abuse, forced to work for 11-14 hours a day without proper compensation. The contractor would allegedly beat them if they didn’t obey his orders. Three minor children are also working here.
The authorities registered a case with the police and are working to rescue more labourers who are still working under the same contractor. The rescued labourers are being sent back to their villages, and the officials are providing them with necessary assistance.
The incident highlights the prevalence of bonded labour in the state, with many labourers being exploited by contractors. The Labour department and NGOs are working together to identify and rescue such labourers and bring the perpetrators to justice.
The rescued labourers have expressed gratitude to the authorities for rescuing them from the clutches of the contractor. The authorities have assured them that they will do everything possible to ensure their safe return to their villages and provide them with necessary assistance.
Brinda, volunteer of Mukti NGO said, “We had kept close watch on that contractor and assessed their work. When we realized he is forcing people into bonded labour, we launched on a joint operation with the Labour department. They used to bring the workers from a camp and the contractor would not allow them to venture out. There is no minimum wage system, no freedom, no week off and important documents are mortgaged as surety. We collected all information and only then we conduct a raid and brought them out safely”, she said.
