Bhubaneswar 35
kids among 167 migrant workers freed from AP kilns
Thursday, 27 December 2012
19:16
SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR
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A
total of 167 migrant labourers, including 35 children, from different parts of
western Odisha, were sent home on December 23 after a surprise raid by Revenue
officials of Guddur in Andhra Pradesh on several brick kilns.
The
migrant labourers of 41 families from Loisingha, Balangir Sadar, Deogaon blocks
in Balangir, Gaisilet, Bijepur, Padampur and Barpali blocks in Bargarh and
Dhanupali of Sambalpur had migrated to Andhra Pradesh through a middleman
Chaitu Bag of Kapsipali on December 21.
Out of
the 167persons, 132 persons working as bonded labourers were released.
According to reports, all adult members had taken an advance of Rs 11,000 per
head and arrived at Guddur station on December 23. Revenue Divisional Officer
of Guddur J Nivas was monitoring the migrant labourer issue.
All
the migrant labourers informed the Revenue Divisional Officer that they had
come to work in brick kilns after taking advance money.
After
listening to them, the officer called the owners of brick kilns and enquired
into the whole incident. He found violation of the provisions of the Bonded
Labour Abolition Act and Interstate Migrant Worksman Act.
He
imposed and collected Rs 6, 80,000 as penalty from the owner of brick kilns for
the offence, who had recruited the labourers. Rs 5,000 was given per person,
during their time of release. With help of NGO ARD, Aide et Action, Action Aid,
local police and railway authorities, the entire rescue process was completed.
Moreover,
the Revenue Divisional Officer also made arrangements of a coach in the
Allepy-Dhanbad train for safe travel of the migrant labourers, while Dayasagar
Pradhan of Aide at Action accompanied the labourers from Guddur to Balangir.
The
labourers arrived at the Balangir railway station at night on December 25. They
were received by Saroj Bark of Aide et Action along with his team member Murali
Das, District Labour Officer PK Bhoi and other officials from DRDA and the
district administration. There was elaborate police arrangement at the railway
station. Balangir SP R Prakash was present.
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