CHENNAI: Twelve fam­il­ies from Chhat­tis­garh were res­cued from alleged bon­ded labour con­di­tions at a private brick kiln in Kan­nur vil­lage in Tiruval­lur dis­trict on Sat­urday.

The res­cue oper­a­tion was car­ried out by Dis­trict Legal Ser­vices Author­ity, Tiruval­lur, along with Inter­na­tional Justice Mis­sion (IJM), after a com­plaint was received from the Assist­ant Com­mis­sioner of Labour Wel­fare from Bilaspur dis­trict in Chhat­tis­garh, stat­ing that many fam­il­ies from their state were being held as bon­ded labour­ers in Kan­chee­puram.

Fol­low­ing which, offi­cials con­duc­ted an inspec­tion at the KDM brick kiln. Accord­ing to offi­cials, the 25 work­ers alleged that they had been work­ing at the kiln for over a month without being paid wages. They also com­plained of being forced to work from 6 am to 7 pm daily and said that basic facil­it­ies such as food and drink­ing water were not provided. The fam­il­ies reques­ted that they be res­cued and sent back to their home state.

Speak­ing to DT Next, K Nalin­idevi, sec­ret­ary, Dis­trict Legal Ser­vices Author­ity, Tiruval­lur, said, “The res­cued per­sons are being sheltered and that their health con­di­tion is yet to be assessed.”

Offi­cials said that steps were also being taken to open bank accounts for those who do not have one. The release orders for these bon­ded labour­ers are expec­ted to be issued, fol­low­ing which arrange­ments will be made to send the fam­il­ies back to Chhat­tis­garh.