The Revenue Department on Monday ordered the release of a couple from bonded labour from a power loom unit here as directed by National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
P. Balasubramani and wife Thulsi from Erode were released from a power loom owned by Mayilsamy and Nagaraj at Kaduvettipalayam, near Sulur, where they were employed as bonded labourers.
NHRC issued the order after it conducted an inquiry into the electrocution of the couple's six-year-old daughter Nandhini at the power loom on August 30, 2014.
The commission in its order dated on January 15 had directed Coimbatore District Collector to issue release order of the couple based on its inquiry into the electrocution of their six-year-old daughter at the power loom they worked in August 30, 2014.
NHRC in its order stated that Mayilsamy and Nagaraj had given an advance amount to the couple to extract work from them by subjecting them to bondage at power loom godown.
Concluding that the couple was subjected bonded labour, the commission had directed district collector to issue release certificate in their favour under provisions of the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976.
The order said that no records or register were verified and no information was forthcoming to show that they were being paid wages in conformity with the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948.
The release orders were handed over to the couple by Revenue Divisional Officer (South) on behalf of the District Collector.
NHRC in a press release dated on January 11, said that the girl was electrocuted as soon as she touched the fence around the power loom godown which was running on illegal electricity connection. It has also has issued a notice to the Government of Tamil Nadu through its Chief Secretary to show cause, within six weeks, why a relief of ₹ 3 lakh should not be recommended to be paid to next of kin of the deceased.
