Vijayanagara: In a major crackdown on bonded labour practices, the Vijayanagara district administration rescued 37 interstate migrant workers from Odisha who were allegedly trapped in exploitative conditions at a brick kiln in Nandibandi village of Mariyammanahalli Hobli. Acting on credible information provided by the Belagavi-based NGO “Spandana,” officials conducted a swift rescue operation on May14 and safely sent the workers back to their native places in Odisha.
The operation was carried out under the guidance of Vijayanagara Deputy Commissioner Kavitha S. Mannikeri, with Assistant Commissioner Vivekananda leading the rescue team. Officials raided the brick kiln located in Nandibandi village and found dozens of labourers, including women and children, living and working in distressing conditions.
According to the investigation, the workers had been brought to Karnataka nearly six months ago from Odisha’s Balangir and Nabarangpur districts. Each family was reportedly paid an advance amount of Rs 40,000 by labour contractors and kiln owners, who promised decent wages and employment for a period of six months. However, once they arrived at the worksite, the labourers allegedly found themselves trapped in a cycle of exploitation and intimidation.
Workers told officials that despite toiling throughout the week in physically demanding conditions, they were paid only around Rs 500, far below the promised wages. Many alleged that they were not allowed to leave the premises freely and were threatened whenever they expressed a desire to return home after the completion of their agreed work period.
Authorities also discovered that security guards had allegedly been deployed around the kiln premises to prevent the labourers from contacting outsiders or escaping. Officials suspect that the workers were deliberately isolated from the outside world to maintain control over them and suppress any attempts to seek help.
The rescue operation exposed shocking living conditions at the site. The workers, including 10 children, 11 women and 16 men, were reportedly forced to live in cramped makeshift sheds barely four feet wide. Basic amenities such as proper sanitation, clean drinking water and adequate shelter were either severely lacking or completely absent.
Officials described the situation as deeply inhuman and said the labourers had been living in unsafe and degrading conditions for months. Several children were found staying at the worksite without access to education or healthcare facilities, highlighting the vulnerability of migrant labour families who often fall prey to exploitative employment networks.
The breakthrough came after Hridaya Raj, a member of the NGO Spandana, alerted authorities about the suspected bonded labour operation. Based on the tip-off, the district administration coordinated with labour department officials and local police before conducting the raid.
Following the rescue, the workers were provided essential support before being transported safely to Odisha by train. Officials ensured that the workers were not left stranded and coordinated their travel arrangements back to their respective hometowns.
An FIR has been registered at Mariyammanahalli Police Station against the brick kiln owners identified as Srinivas, Mahadev Rao and Venkata Prasad. Cases have reportedly been filed under relevant sections related to bonded labour, illegal confinement and labour exploitation. Police have initiated further investigation into the network involved in recruiting and transporting migrant workers across state borders.
Deputy Commissioner Kavitha Mannikeri stated that strict action would be taken against those involved in bonded labour practices and warned employers against exploiting vulnerable interstate workers. She emphasised that the administration would continue conducting inspections and monitoring labour-intensive industries to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The incident has once again drawn attention to the continuing existence of bonded labour systems in parts of the country despite strict legal prohibitions.
In the wake of the rescue, the Vijayanagara district administration has reportedly intensified surveillance on brick kilns and other labour-intensive sectors where migrant workers are employed.
Critics argue that the Congress government in Karnataka is remaining silent on preventing such incidents through its government machinery.
