MADURAI: A total of eight bonded labourers received their community certificates and house patta following a report published by TNIE on November 18, highlighting their struggle to obtain basic documents.
In the article titled “2 years after being rescued, 14 bonded labourers’ wait for docus sees no end”, the issue was brought to the attention of District Collector K J Praveen Kumar.
A Muthukaruppan (41) was rescued on April 20, 2023. His family was shifted to an old SHG building in Pulipatti, Melur, which is their native village, where they have been living ever since. “Despite submitting petitions to the district administration, we were unable to receive welfare benefits provided by the Tamil Nadu government,” Muthukaruppan said. “But, on Tuesday, the revenue inspector called us and issued free house-site pattas at Muthupatti near Chittampatti in Melur taluk,” he added.
Four families, including Selvi (55) and Veeran (60), Maheswari (33) and Muthukaruppan (41), Kayalvizhi (23) and Guna (25), Vijayashanthi (20) and Thirumoorthi (21), received pattas.
Each patta allots two cents of land. They also received community certificates.
Muthukaruppan thanked the collector and other officials for their swift action. Acting on the collector’s instructions, the revenue inspector of Melur taluk issued free house-site pattas and community certificates to all four families. “Once we receive our Aadhaar cards, officials have assured us that ration cards and other welfare assistance will also be provided soon,” Muthukaruppan added.