ANANTAPUR: As many as 98 migrant workers, including 30 women and 38 children, were rescued from alleged bonded labour at charcoal production units spread across 10 locations in Anantapur district on Wednesday.
The workers, belonging to migrant families from Mangaon in Maharashtra’s Raigad district, were reportedly brought to Andhra Pradesh after being promised employment, and given advances ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 1 lakh.
Some families said they had been living and working at the charcoal units for periods ranging from two to five years.
The rescue operation followed an interstate alert after a worker reportedly escaped from one of the worksites, and approached social workers in Maharashtra. The information was subsequently shared with authorities in Andhra Pradesh, leading to coordination between the two States, and the joint operation in Anantapur.
The Revenue, Labour, Police and Women and Child Development departments participated in the rescue operation. Mandal Revenue Officers, Labour and WCD officials, police personnel, medical staff and social workers were involved. Pregnant women were among those rescued.
The administration arranged immediate medical assistance and food for the workers following the operation.
Migrant workers allege physical assault, abuse
According to the workers, they were engaged in cutting ‘Pichumukka’ trees, and continuously burning the wood for nearly three days to produce charcoal. They described the work as physically strenuous, and alleged that they were not paid proper wages. The charcoal was reportedly supplied to hotels in Mumbai.
The families were living in makeshift shelters near the charcoal units, constructed largely with wood and cloth sheets, with limited household belongings. Workers alleged that their movement was restricted, and that they were permitted to visit the nearest village only once a week to purchase ration, often from a particular shop.
Several workers also alleged physical assault, verbal abuse, and threats when they questioned wages or sought permission to return to Maharashtra. Sakaram, 40, alleged that he had remained in bonded labour for nearly five years, and was assaulted with lathis.
Hari, 45, revealed that he had worked for nearly three years, and was assaulted with sandals and thorny branches. He also alleged that despite an advance of about Rs 5,000, he was asked to pay Rs 50,000 to leave.
Workers further alleged that families were promised Rs 160 per bag of charcoal but received only Rs 600–Rs 800 a week towards groceries, while wages remained unsettled. They also alleged that there were no fixed working hours, and that threats were made when work was delayed, or wages were demanded.
