Maharashtra: 30 rescued from bonded labour from Kolhapur

India – Madhya Pradesh’s Guna police rescued 30 bonded labourers from the Kolhapur district of Maharashtra. Madhya Pradesh Bandhua Mukti Morcha (BMM) told police about the condition of the bonded labourers in Kolhapur.

BMM’s Guna district president Shashi Ahirwar lodged a complaint with Guna police alleging 30 labourers from different villages of Guna district were taken to Kolhapur to work. The 30 labourers were held captive at Gorambe village of Kagal taluka tehsil of Kolhapur district. They were not allowed to go out.

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Labourers held captive in inhuman conditions

Shashi Ahirwar said that labour contractor Sagar Yadav kept 30 labourers in inhuman conditions. He reportedly forced them to work overtime without giving them proper wages and adequate food. They were not getting enough meals and water to work efficiently.

Shashi Ahirwar shared this information with the Central Office of Bandhua Mukti Morcha in New Delhi. BMM worker Sonu Tomar approached the district officer of Kolhapur district to rescue the bonded workers. Subsequently, the district magistrate ordered the SDM (Sub-Divisional Magistrate) of Kagal taluka tehsil to take action against the accused.

A team of local administration and police team reached the spot in Kolhapur district and found bonded labourers. They were held captive there. The labourers claimed that they did not get adequate wages for their work. They were assured by the contractor of getting full payment but it did not happen. The contractor instead forced them to work more with less payment or no payment.

Shashi Ahirwar demanded stricter action against the contractor, Sagar Yadav, under Bonded Labour Abolition Act 1976, Scheduled Castes and Tribes Act 1989, Minimum Wages Act 1948 and Inter-State Migrate Work Act 1979.

In a similar incident, recently 18 labourers from the Burhanpur district of Madhya Pradesh were rescued from the Solapur district of Maharashtra. Rescued labourers said that contractors used to abuse them and does not give them any wages for their work.