CHENNAI: In a joint operation by police, revenue department, and District Legal Services Authority, 39 bonded labourers from 15 families of Chhattisgarh's Janjgir-Champa district were rescued from a goshala (cattle shelter) in Devandavakkam village, Tiruvallur district, on Monday. The victims had been lured with false promises of good wages and free accommodation.
How the Issue Came to Light
The matter surfaced on Sunday when the labourers approached local police seeking help to return home. They stated they arrived at the goshala on May 5 after the owner paid an advance of Rs 75,000 and promised a daily wage of Rs 700 per couple — Rs 400 for men and Rs 300 for women — along with food and accommodation. However, the workers claimed they received no wages since arrival and were subjected to routine physical and verbal abuse. When they demanded payment, they were assaulted and chased away.
Authorities Respond
After the complaint, police alerted the revenue department and DLSA. “We inspected the goshala and found the workers' claims genuine. Some labourers, including women, were beaten; a few sustained injuries while operating fodder-cutting machines,” said K Nalini, Tiruvallur DLSA secretary and part of the One Stop One Crisis Team.
Revenue Divisional Officer Ravichandran told TOI that the labourers were forced to work long hours, denied permission to leave, and left unpaid for 25 days. “We will initiate strict legal action against the goshala owner under the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act,” he said. Authorities are opening bank accounts for each victim to deposit Rs 35,000 as immediate relief under a Central Sponsored Scheme, and arrangements are being made to send them back to their native place on Tuesday.
