In a stark case of labour trafficking and exploitation, authorities from Madhya Pradesh's Guna district have successfully rescued twenty-six tribal labourers from Maharashtra. The workers, who were lured with the promise of jobs in sugarcane harvesting, were allegedly held captive and forced to work without pay for weeks.
The False Promise and Captivity
The ordeal began when a middleman, identified as Bunty Sahariya from Umri village, promised the labourers daily wages of Rs 600 for work in Maharashtra's sugarcane fields. The group, predominantly belonging to the Sahariya tribal community from villages like Amrod, Umri, Sirsi, and Parsoda in Guna, was sent to work for a contractor named Raghunath in Maharashtra.
Upon arrival, their situation turned grim. The workers were forced to toil in the fields throughout the day. While they were provided with food, no wages were paid as promised. Furthermore, they were not allowed to leave or return to their homes in Madhya Pradesh, effectively holding them captive at the worksite.
Rescue Operation by Guna Administration
After enduring weeks of exploitation, the labourers managed to alert the Guna district administration about their desperate plight. Acting swiftly on the information, the district collector directed the labour department to intervene.
A rescue team was formed, which then coordinated with relevant districts and departments in Maharashtra. This joint effort led to a successful operation, bringing all 26 stranded labourers back safely to Guna. After their return, the rescued workers visited the collectorate and narrated their harrowing experience to officials.
Fallout and a Larger Pattern of Exploitation
The Guna administration has now ordered strict legal action against the involved middlemen and contractors under relevant labour laws. Officials have also been instructed to maintain heightened vigilance to prevent similar incidents of labour trafficking in the future.
This rescue has, however, exposed a more extensive problem of migrant labour exploitation in Maharashtra's sugarcane belt. Reports indicate that more tribal labourers from the Mungawali area of Ashoknagar district are stranded in Solapur district under similar circumstances.
Families of these missing workers had approached local MLA Brijendra Singh Yadav after losing contact. Although Maharashtra police traced one group, relatives allege the employers shifted the labourers to another location to continue preventing their return. In a related account, two labourers reportedly escaped and informed villagers about the non-payment of wages and restricted movement.
Police officials confirmed they are in constant touch with Maharashtra authorities, and efforts are underway to bring all stranded labourers back to Madhya Pradesh.
