41 bonded labourers rescued from five worksites in Sri Sathya Sai district

ANANTAPUR: The Sri Sathya Sai district administration rescued 41 workers, including women and children, from five worksites in the district on Thursday.

Key points

• Rescued workers informed office-holders they were allegedly beaten, forced to work long hours and denied wages after receiving advances of `20, 000-50, 000.
• Authorities rescued the workers from five worksites located at Chinthalapalli village (two locations), Puleru Road near Gorantla town, Thummarayuni Thanda and Talamarla village.
• Based on which, the Sri Sathya Sai district authorities initiated action and coordinated with the concerned authorities in AP.
• Experts pressed an inter-State SOP and formal coordination mechanism to streamline information sharing, repatriation & survivor rehabilitation.
• The rescue followed a complaint lodged by two young men in their early twenties.

Notably, the rescue followed a complaint lodged by two young men in their early twenties. This person escaped from the worksites and reached Maharashtra.

Meanwhile, the men approached social workers and sought support to rescue their parents and grandparents. This person were still working at the sites. With the support of social workers, they lodged a complaint.

Based on which, the Sri Sathya Sai district authorities initiated action and coordinated with the concerned authorities in AP. During the operation, authorities identified multiple worksites where workers were allegedly being engaged in bonded labour.

Notably, the owner of the worksites is documented to be from Maharashtra. The workers had allegedly remained in bonded labour for over three years.

Authorities rescued the workers from five worksites located at Chinthalapalli village (two locations), Puleru Road near Gorantla town, Thummarayuni Thanda and Talamarla village. While Talamarla village falls under Kothacheruvu mandal of the Puttaparthi revenue division, four locations fall under Gorantla mandal of the Penukonda revenue division.

Rescued workers informed office-holders they were allegedly beaten, forced to work long hours and denied wages after receiving advances of `20, 000-50, 000. Police detained two persons linked to the worksites.

In short, 41 bonded labourers rescued from five worksites in Sri Sathya Sai district is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.