Family of bonded labourers gets house post rescue

A government order issuing to build a  house worth Rs 2.60 lakh was handed over to a family of bonded labour by the Tiruvannamalai Collector after they were rescued from Thoothukudi district on Sunday.

It all started when Murugan (45), wife Selvi (40) and son Muniyappan (20) all natives of Chettyakuppam village in Wandiwash taluk were made to work as bonded labour in cane fields in Koilpatti in Thoothukudi district for having taken a loan of Rs 27,000. However, even after completion of one year, they were told that they still owed Rs 18,000. They were also forced to imbibe liquor to work faster.

Unable to bear the actions imposed on them, the family escaped the place and landed in their native village Chettyakuppam on May 27. However, they were not let alone, as men from the cane field owner landed in their native village and forcefully abducted Murugan on June 4, taking his back and demanding him to work until he had cleared the pending amount totalling up to Rs 18,000.

On November 4, Muniappan appealed to Collector Kandasamy based on which the latter got in touch with the Thoothukudi district administration. After the Collector explained the issue, the Kovilpatti RDO and DSP immediately rescued Murugan from the cane field and made sure that he was sent back to his native place. Based on this, Collector Kandasamy called Murugan and his family to the Cheyyar RDO office where he gave Murugan the order for the government house.