10 rescued from woodcutting unit in Chennai

CHENNAI: The Kancheepuram RDO and Irular Tribal Welfare Society together rescued 10 bonded labourers from a woodcutting unit late on Tuesday. The victims from four families, who were working under N Shanmugam at Pazhanthandalam for eight years, said they were living in hostile conditions. “We cut wood from shrubs for 10 hours each day. However, both my wife and I were paid only Rs 500 a week,” said Muthu Gopal (38), a rescued worker, adding that they were living in a small settlement without electricity or toilets. 

Muthu had borrowed Rs 10,000 from Shanmugam and was allegedly coerced into working under the latter. He had later borrowed another Rs 10,000 in smaller chunks in eight years. About a month ago, members of ITWS spread awareness about bonded labour during a local festival. Muthu, who attended it, reached out to Durairaj Vadivel, president of the society. “After confirming that they were bonded labourers, I alerted officials,” said Vadivel. The officials met workers on Tuesday and interrogated both workers and Shanmugam. “We rescued them at around 11 pm,” said G Raju, RDO, Kancheepuram.