Bonded labour: 6 children from Odisha rescued from city water treatment plants

The rescue was carried out with the help of International Justice Mission (IJM) and Bachpan Bachao Andolan, whose members received information of the alleged bonded labour practice at the plants.

“The kids were brought in from Odisha by the plants’ owners. They had paid an advance of Rs 5,000 to Rs 15,000 to the children’s families,” an IJM source said.

He added that the labourers were being paid a meagre sum as salary and were forced to work for long hours. “Soon after we received the information, we informed revenue officials, who rescued the kids and took them for medical examination to ascertain their actual age,” the source said. Meanwhile, L Bharathi Devi, the sub-collector of Central Chennai, said that none of the rescued bonded labourers are minors.

“We have provided basic facilities to them and lodged them in a government hostel for a day. They have been given release certificates and will be sent to Odisha after we get the details of their families,” she added.

On the other hand, the revenue department has lodged a complaint with the city police, based on which the police registered an FIR against a person believed to be the owner of both the units.