As many as 46 labourers hailing from Chhattisgarh, categorised as ‘bonded’ by Revenue Department, were sent back to their native Dantewada district on Tuesday.
The labourers had told the officials that they had been working in stressful conditions in coir units, fly ash brick units, and hollow-block units.
They had been recruited many months ago by a network of agents who not only extracted huge commission from the employers, but also deducted a portion of the promised wages.
According to the labourers, the local agent Babu based in Chinniyampalayam, who hails from West Bengal, but, has made Erode his home for the last two decades, had forcibly taken their family and Aadhaar cards and bank pass books to ensure that they remained in bonded conditions. However, none had complained of physical torture or starvation.
The labourers who had come to Erode by train in search of work were promised Rs. 250 per day, but the agent used to deduct Rs. 50.
One among them, Sukhram (20), had escaped from the work place recently and represented the plight of eight other labourers in his group to the Dantewada district administration.
The district administration had deputed a team consisting of officials of police, revenue, and labour departments to bring back the workers.
On learning about the arrival of the Chhattisgarh team, members of several other groups who had also been recruited by Babu expressed their desire to return to their native State.
Under the supervision of Erode Revenue Divisional Officer In-Charge P. Suresh, each of the labourers was provided with Rs. 1,000, to get back home, under the guidance of the Chhattisgarh team.
The officials made sure that the agent returned to them their family card, Aadhaar card, bank pass book, and pending dues before their return.
