29 tribals from Prakasam district rescued from bonded labour in Telangana

Nearly 29 Chenchu/Yanadi tribals belonging to six families of V.Y Colony in Kurichedu mandal in Prakasam district were reportedly rescued and freed from bonded labour. They were allegedly working as bonded labourers in a coal kiln near Kalwakurthy road in Telkapally mandal, Nagarkurnool district, Telangana, for the last ten years.

Knowing about their difficult situation, representatives of Dalit Bahujana Resource Centre (DBRC), a voluntary organisation, visited the spot and brought the issue to the notice of Nagarkurnool District Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO), along with India Labourline, a non-profit organisation, to protect unorganised sector workers.

After receiving the complaint, a special team was formed under the leadership of Telkapally Tahsildar Vijay Kumar on the orders of the RDO. A police team led by Sub-Inspector (SI) Naresh, District Labour Officer Rajkumar, and District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) Officer Srisailam, went to the site and questioned the workers.

During the interrogation, the tribal families reportedly told the authorities that they were forced to work in coal kilns for the past decade. They requested the authorities to rescue them and send them to their native villages. Later, the authorities reportedly rescued 29 people, including men, women and children of the six families.

They were handed over to the district Labour Department and Child Welfare Committee for further rehabilitation measures. They will be shifted to their native village in Prakasam district. A case was registered against the coal kiln owner Lalu and strict action will be taken against him.

Later, the rescued labourers were taken to Ongole District Collector office on Monday. They explained their problems to Collector P. Raja Babu, who directed Joint Collector and the ICDS officials to provide immediate assistance and rehabilitation measures for them. They will be sent to their native village soon.