​34 bonded labourers rescued from Karnataka's Bagalkot's brick kiln

Bengaluru: In the week India marked 50 years since the enactment of the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, officials in Bagalkot district rescued 34 bonded labourers, including nine children, who were trafficked from Odisha and held captive in a remote village.

The district administration received a complaint that the 34 individuals were held captive in a brick kiln located in Sankalapur village of Ilakal taluk, about 50 km from the district headquarters. With this, 99 bonded labourers have been rescued from the district over the last three months.

"We took action immediately after receiving the complaint. Considering the number of individuals rescued, I will discuss with officials about the practicality of conducting special drives to eradicate bonded labour," Bagalkot Deputy Commissioner Sangappa M told DH.

District Labour Officer Ramesh S Sumbad said an FIR was registered against the brick kiln owner on Wednesday. "All the rescued individuals underwent a health check-up. They are fit to travel. They are boarding the train to Odisha tonight," he said.

Spandana Association, the NGO whose complaint led to the rescue, said that the 34 individuals belonged to nine families. They were given advances ranging from Rs 20,000 to 30,000 per family by a trafficker.

"They were first told they would be working in Vijayawada and were taken there by bus by the trafficker. From there, they were brought by train to Bagalkot. Only two weeks after beginning work did they learn from local labourers that they were in Karnataka," Sushila, director of Spandana, said.

Working in the kiln, a family received only Rs 800 per week as wages. Only one member of the family was permitted to visit the market each week. "The kiln owner and his two sons physically and verbally abused the labourers. They also threatened to kill the workers when they questioned the conditions," she said.

The victims lived in unsafe conditions in huts made of bricks. They did not have water or sanitation. Whenever they stepped outside to relieve themselves, they were constantly monitored by the owner, causing humiliation, especially for women.