Special coach to ferry kids saved from bonded labour

“Southern Railways has accepted my request to provide special arrangements to transfer 61 kids rescued from Chennai working as bonded labour by arranging a special coach to transfer kids to Kolkata by Howrah train tomorrow. Special Thanks to Ananthamurthy of Southern Railways (sic),” Senthil tweeted on Tuesday.

However, confirming the allotment of the special coach on the request of the MP, Railway officials told DT Next that the train was scheduled for Wednesday, but it has been deferred.

“The special coach was supposed to be attached to a Kolkata-bound train on Wednesday. We were told that some formalities must be fulfilled by the Revenue Divisional Officer before sending the rescued labourer back home. The MP apprised us of the formalities on Tuesday evening. So, it has been delayed. We will allot them a special coach whenever they are returning home,” said a Railway official who did not wish to be named.

The children were rescued from five jewel making units on Walltax Road by a city police team after receiving a tip-off from an NGO.

Meanwhile, Senthilkumar also took another group of rescued bonded labourers to Anna Arivalayam where they met DMK president MK Stalin and petitioned him to make legal efforts to get them community certificate, ration card, Aadhaar card and voters ID.