20-year-old TN labourer rescued by relative from bonded labour in Haryana

Thangavairavan after completing Class 10 was working as a mechanic. According to his father Rajamani, he took to liquor and smoking as he had developed bad friendship.

“I sent him to work in a dosa shop owned by Aruvakodi, a relative of mine, in July this year, in order to wean away from smoking and liquor. Aruvakodi was running the shop at Karnal in Haryana. But I was unaware of the harassment meted out to Thangavairavan there. It is said that he was also beaten up severely,” said Rajamani.

The family had approached Usilampatti police to register a complaint to no avail. A demand was also made to the district administration to take immediate action against Aruvakodi.

The boy’s uncle Thavamani, who had rescued him from New Delhi Railway station, said that on receipt of information that Thangavairavan had become mentally unstable he had rushed to New Delhi. Though a salary of Rs 6,000 per month was promised, it was not given. When asked about the harassment, Aruvakodi gave just Rs 4,000, said Thavamani.

Thavamani also said that his son, Vairamani, too had suffered a similar harassment at a ‘murukku company’ in Odisha and is now receiving a pension of Rs 1,000 a month. Many such youths from Tamil Nadu are being harassed by the hotel owners in New Delhi and the government should take steps to rescue them, demanded Thavamani