Even after almost half a century has passed since Parliament passed the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act of 1976, the existence of such practices reflects the plight of the working class and their struggle for survival.
Published Mar 14, 2025 | 12:00 PM ⚊ Updated Mar 14, 2025 | 12:00 PM
A group of people from Tamil Nadu who were rescued from bonded labour. (Supplied)
Synopsis: Behind Tamil Nadu’s industrial progress and agricultural prosperity, there lies a huge issue of human suffering — bonded labour. The injustice of bonded labour is not limited to the known cases. According to activists, numerous cases of bonded labour exist, sometimes resembling slavery, with most remaining unknown to the “outside world”.
Bonded labour — a relic of oppression that refuses to fade — continues to cast a dark shadow over Tamil Nadu. Behind the state’s industrial progress and agricultural prosperity lie stories of human suffering, where entire families are trapped in a cycle of forced labour.
The struggles of individuals like Dhanalakshmi, Asha, and the twenty-one other labourers rescued from Krishnagiri reveal a cruel reality: The system that is meant to protect them is failing.
Even after almost half a century has passed since Parliament passed the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act of 1976, the existence of such practices reflects the plight of the working class and their struggle for survival.
The Act legally prohibits bonded labour and mandates the release and rehabilitation of those subjected to it. However, the challenge here is that most people engaged in bonded labour lack access to knowledge about their rights and, therefore, the support they could receive.
Dhanalakshmi (34), and her husband Suresh (38), never imagined that borrowing ₹35,000 to build a house would cost them their freedom. What began as a financial necessity turned into four years of servitude under an oppressive local businessman.
The couple, along with their two sons, were forced to care for his three cows, four dogs, 600 chickens, and 500 pigeons, working day and night for a mere ₹3,000 per month — half of what was promised.
Determined to give their children a future, they secretly sent them to school, scraping together the ₹300 exam fee despite the owner’s disapproval.
However, their defiance came at a cost. For nearly two months, the family was denied food, their bodies weakened by hunger while their spirits endured the weight of constant verbal abuse.
They were forbidden from visiting their native village, attending medical emergencies, or even reaching out to relatives — who themselves stopped visiting after the owner falsely accused Dhanalakshmi of having extramarital affairs.
The illusion of power was reinforced by cameras installed around the house, with the owner watching their every move from afar. He claimed to be in Dubai, but according to Vinoth, leader of the Released Bonded Labour Association (RBLA) Tiruvallur, he was in fact operating from Chennai while working remotely for a Dubai-based company.
The daily torment was enforced by a man named Babu, who oversaw their work and handed out wages like a master tossing scraps to the enslaved.
During the Covid-induced lockdown, any hope of escape vanished. Without the necessary release certificates, they missed the chance to officially register their case as bonded labour victims.
When the world was shutting down to protect itself from a virus, they remained shackled by a different kind of affliction — one that laws alone couldn’t cure. Eventually, Vinoth and local activists helped them break free.
Now Dhanalakshmi and her family are part of the varnam block printing unit, run by the survivors of bonded labour who earn better wages. They work under fair conditions but the scars remain.
For Asha and her husband Ravi, survival meant moving from Vandavasi to Ranipet in search of work. However, their fate took a cruel turn at a community gathering, where Kuppan, a local employer, saw them as easy prey. When Asha borrowed ₹4,000 to build a hut, she unknowingly sold her family into bondage.
Kuppan and his family subjected them to daily abuse, ensuring they never felt human. Ravi was beaten so badly he sometimes couldn’t stand. Asha was humiliated, her saree lifted in front of others, her dignity trampled under the weight of their cruelty. Their children, instead of attending school, were sent on errands to fetch meat, collect sand, and perform menial tasks.
Even the small inheritance they carried — six to eight chickens — was denied to them. When they pleaded to raise their own poultry for survival, Kuppan’s response was brutal: He beat Ravi until his nose bled.
But oppression cannot exist forever in silence. As the village began to progress, so did awareness. Locals took notice of the couple’s suffering and reported it to government authorities. What followed was a long-overdue act of justice — a rescue operation led by the police and district officials.
Asha and Ravi, along with several others from the Irular community, a Scheduled Tribe (ST), were freed. They were given basic documents — Aadhar cards, ration cards, voter IDs — things they had never realised were fundamental rights.
Today, Asha is no longer a victim. She is Asha, RBLA leader of Ranipet district. With government support, they were given goats, which multiplied and provided them with financial independence.
Earning ₹500 a day, they now live a life of dignity. However, Asha questions: How many others are still suffering, unseen and unheard?
The injustice of bonded labour is not limited to the known cases. According to activists, numerous cases of bonded labour exist, sometimes resembling slavery, with most remaining unknown to the “outside world”.
On 7 March this year, 21 people — five adults and sixteen children — were rescued from bonded labour in the Krishnagiri district.
The intervention came after the National Adivasi Solidarity Council (NASC) filed a petition with the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA). The victims were issued release certificates, marking the first step toward freedom.
The Tamil Nadu government has implemented several initiatives to combat bonded labour, aiming to eradicate this exploitative practice and rehabilitate affected individuals.
To facilitate the rehabilitation process, the government has established the Central Sector Scheme for Rehabilitation of Bonded Labourers 2016, revised in 2021. This scheme provides financial assistance and non-cash benefits to rescued bonded labourers, including immediate relief and support for their reintegration into society.
Additionally, the state has adopted innovative approaches to prevent bonded labour. For instance, Tamil Nadu’s public procurement policies now require self-certification from supply chain partners, ensuring that their operations are free from bonded labour practices. This move aims to promote ethical business practices and deter exploitative labour arrangements.
Collaborations with non-governmental organisations have also proven effective. An independent review documented an 82 percent relative reduction of bonded labour in Tamil Nadu, highlighting the impact of such collaborative efforts.
“The release of bonded labourers is just the beginning; without systematic reforms, prevention mechanisms, and stricter law enforcement, more families will continue to fall into these exploitative traps. The Tamil Nadu government must take proactive measures by enforcing regular inspections across all districts to identify and prevent bonded labour practices,” an activist working on bonded labour issues in Tamil Nadu told South First.
“Immediate relief and rehabilitation funds should be provided to rescued individuals, ensuring they do not fall back into exploitative conditions.”
“Additionally, prioritising education for the children of rescued families is crucial in breaking the cycle of generational bondage. Creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for affected communities will empower them economically, reducing their vulnerability to exploitation and ensuring a dignified future,” the activist added
However, Dr Krishnan, a researcher on bonded labour, told South First that the government should ensure periodic inspections to ensure the abolition of bonded labour.
“We consider ourselves a progressive society, but there is little accountability. The vigilance committees — one in every district — rarely conduct regular inspections. The Tamil Nadu labour department should ensure at least four thorough inspections every year,” he said.
He highlights that bonded labour is not just a poverty issue; it is deeply tied to caste-based discrimination and exploitative labour practices.
“Tribal communities, displaced by wildlife conservation projects and forced out of forests, often find themselves trapped in forced labour with nowhere else to go. Red tape in government departments regarding the rehabilitation of displaced populations pushes them into the hands of exploiters,” he pointed out.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
