9849 - Bonded Labourers rescued threaten to commit suicide - Web India

Bonded Labourers rescued threaten to commit suicide

The bonded labourers, rescued way back in 2013, threatened to commit suicide, if, the adminstration failed to take steps to retrieve their properties forcefully occupied by a person in Eripakkam near Thondamanatham here. A social workers Sarathi, who was instrumental in release of the labourers in 2013 told newspersons today that the victims will surrender their Aadhar card, ration card and voter ID cards if the government fail to take action against Pandurangan,who engaged them as workers and took them to the fields in Tamil Nadu. Explaining, Mr.Sarathi said a total of 68 people belonging to Irular community were lured in by offering Rs. 10,000/- as loan by Pandurangan and employed them in the sugarcane fields in Tamil Nadu. They were kept and forced to work in the fields showing the amount, which, Pandurangan claimed to have accumulated into a huge amount with interest.The labourers were inhumanly treated by the sugarcane field owners, who forced them to work throughout the day. The poor and innocent Irulars were forced to work on their field under one pretext or other without proper food and accommodation. After their plight came to light when some of the people escaped and narrated the experience to the officials of Puducherry and Tamil Nadu, the then Villupruam Collector rescued them and sent them to their native places. In the meantime, the victims' properties and houses were grabbed by Pandurangan for the money he gave them. Though,they approached the police, no action was taken.They also submitted memorandum s to the Lt.Governor, chief secretary and district collector on February two, this year, on which no action was taken till date.Following this,they have decided to return their ration cards and Aadhaar cards and to commit suicide, if the authorities show a blind eye towards their cause. UNI PAB KVV AK 1905 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0414-684863.Xml