Navi Mumbai: Nine men from Uttar Pradesh, aged between 18 and 24 years, were rescued from illegal bonded labour at a laterite stone quarry site in Charai Budruk village of Tala taluka in Raigad district, where they were reportedly held in exploitative working conditions for nearly two years.The case recently came to light after Raigad-based Ankur Trust received discreet information about the alleged exploitation at the quarry owned by Laxman Ramji Tambe. The Trust then approached Raigad collector Kishan Jawale and Superintendent of Police Aanchal Dalal, following which a joint search and rescue operation was launched by the district administration and police.The rescued workers were issued release certificates and sent to their native place, Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh, under police protection and with revenue officials accompanying them.Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO), Mangaon, Sandeep Sanap was appointed nodal officer for the operation. A team comprising Tala Tehsildar Swati Patil, labour department officials and Tala police coordinated the rescue. The team assembled at the Tala Tehsil office before proceeding to the remote quarry site.The workers’ individual statements were recorded and their living and working conditions documented.Based on a complaint filed by advocate Trupti Patil on behalf of Ankur Trust, a case was registered. The quarry owner’s associates, identified as supervisors Sudam Rathod and Suman, were among those booked. The accused have been arrested.“Bonded labour is a violation of constitutional rights; we were tipped off that the condition of the 9 young workers at the quarry site was in a pitiable condition, and they feared for their lives due to the exploitation they suffered,” said the director of Ankur Trust, Dr Vaishali Patil.Article 23 of the Constitution prohibits human trafficking, begging and forced labour. The Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976, abolishes the bonded labour system and extinguishes obligations arising from bonded debt. Sections 16, 17 and 18 prescribe punishment, including imprisonment of up to three years and a fine, for offences relating to the enforcement of bonded labour, bonded debt and extraction of bonded labour.Advocate Trupti Patil said the law provides for the release of bonded labourers and protects them from obligations arising out of bonded debt.In August this year, 38 poor Katkari tribals from Mangaon taluka were rescued from bonded labour at a coal site in Andhra Pradesh. The activist said that the exploiters take advantage of the desperation of poor migrant workers to find work, and then intimidate them by saying that “no one can save them” as they are forced to work on meagre wages and less food.Dr Patil said, “Bonded labour is not merely economic exploitation; it is a violation of human freedom, dignity and constitutional rights. After two years, the young men from UP were overwhelmed with emotion at the prospect of returning home. However, rescue and transportation to their native place cannot be the end of the process. Every released bonded labourer must receive a release certificate, pending wages, compensation and the benefits of government rehabilitation schemes.“SDO Sandeep Sanap said efforts would be made to coordinate with the Uttar Pradesh govt to ensure that the rescued workers receive rehabilitation assistance, financial support, livelihood opportunities and social security.The case has once again highlighted the vulnerability of young migrant workers who leave their homes in search of employment and end up trapped in exploitative working conditions.For the nine young men, freedom has come after two years. Ensuring that they rebuild their lives with dignity and security is now the bigger challenge.
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