Chennai:
Twelve bonded labourers including five children have been rescued during an operation by district officials in Kancheepuram, some 50 km from Chennai.
Acting on a complaint by an NGO - International Justice Mission (IJM), district officials including G Chellappa, Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) of Chengalpet Revenue Division raided a tree cutting unit in Kayar Village of Chengalpet taluk on Friday.
"During the raid, a total of 12 persons including five children belonging to three families from Maduranthagam were rescued from the unit after approximately eight to ten years in bondage," Chellappa told Press Trust of India (PTI) over phone on Saturday.
The rescued were being paid a mere Rs 300 per month against the state government's minimum wage of Rs 136.02 per person a day, he said, adding, that the unit owner also denied the labourers freedom of movement and the freedom to work outside.
The victims were later issued release certificates to seven bonded labourers, officially identifying them as victims of bonded labour and entitling them to government rehabilitation funds.
RDO has also lodged a criminal complaint against owner of the tree cutting units under sections 9,16,17,18 and 20 of the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act 1976, sections 370, 374 and 341 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Section 14 of the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act 1986.