Fourteen bonded labourers — nine adults and five children of four families — who were working in a rock quarry at Salavedu in Vandavasi taluk of the district were rescued by a team of revenue officials led by K. Priya, Revenue Divisional Officer, Cheyyar, on Friday.
The team raided the quarry with the help of the police.
Ms. Priya told The Hindu on Saturday that on receiving information from the International Justice Mission about the bonded labourers, the team raided the quarry belonging to Sekhar and conducted enquiries. It rescued the 14 bonded labourers and sent them to their native place near Maduranthakam.
The RDO distributed release certificates and immediate relief of Rs.1000 each (out of the Rs.20,000 they are eligible for) to eight of the nine adults who were working in the quarry. The other adult was assisting another person.
She said that one of the children was working as a bonded labourer to repay the loan taken by his deceased father from the quarry owner. The RDO said that the remaining Rs.19,000 out of the relief amount would be given by the RDO, Maduranthakam to each of the eight workers. The Keezhkodungalur police have registered a case. The quarry owner is absconding.
