Authorities rescue tribal bonded labourers, after Maoists threaten them to migrate

After threats from Maoists forced tribals in the area to migrate to other parts of the country to work at inadequate salaries, authorities rescued over 200 bonded labourers to bring them back to their native district of Gajapati.

District Collector Basudev Bahinipati said that the Odisha Government has decided to rehabilitate the returning bonded labourers and also to provide education to their children.

"On enquiry, it is ascertained that they have gone on their own will to get higher wages there. However, once they have reached Odisha, they will be rehabilitated with all assistance from the government of Odisha. And also we will arrange for the education of their children and we will give them sufficient work under...other government schemes," said Bahinipati.

A member of the rescue team from Tamil Nadu, Sanmukham, said that despite insufficient salary many of these bonded labourers are still not willing to come back due to the fear of Maoist activity.

" Approximately, 250 bonded labourers have been brought. Some of them were not willing to come back to the place because they were happy there. But all these people were ready to come back to the place, that is why they took the decision to release them," he said.

Every month hundreds of labourers including women and children, who are under the threat of Maoist activity, leave the area and migrate to places like Chennai, western Mumbai and northern Delhi in search of work.