Parbhani Police Rescue 41 Migrant Workers from Alleged Bonded Labour Situation
In a significant intervention, the Parbhani police on Friday rescued forty-one migrant workers, including children, from an alleged bonded labour situation at a road construction project in Selu taluka. This operation has led to the filing of a First Information Report (FIR) against four contractors involved in the case.
Complaint Triggers Swift Multi-Agency Action
The rescue action was initiated following a formal complaint by a social worker associated with the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) in Beed. The complaint detailed that workers from Telangana had been brought to Maharashtra with promises of higher wages but were allegedly forced to work for months with reduced payment, raising serious concerns about labour exploitation.
Acting promptly on this alert, coordinated teams from the DLSA, the revenue department, and the police conducted a joint visit to a construction site located in the Nandgaon farm area, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Selu police station.
Discovery of Exploitative Working Conditions
During the thorough inspection, the team discovered twenty-eight adult workers from various districts of Telangana living on-site with their families. This group included children aged between three and thirteen years, highlighting the familial nature of the workforce involved.
The workers recounted to the authorities that they had been lured with attractive wage offers and transported to Parbhani approximately four months ago. Upon arrival, they were allegedly compelled to work long hours while being systematically underpaid. Reports of restrictions and undue pressure led the authorities to classify the situation as a suspected case of bonded labour, a severe form of modern-day slavery.
Immediate Relief and Legal Proceedings
All the rescued workers and their family members were immediately shifted to the Charthana police station for proper documentation and to initiate further legal proceedings. This step ensured their safety and facilitated a structured investigation into the allegations.
The police subsequently filed a case against four individuals: an authorised representative of the construction firm and three labour contractors. The FIR has been registered under relevant legal provisions addressing bonded labour and labour law violations.
Authorities Emphasize Scrutiny and Justice
Parbhani Superintendent of Police Ravindra Singh Pardeshi emphasized that swift action was taken as soon as the complaint was received. "We are scrutinising wage records, working conditions, and the contractors' roles to ensure a comprehensive investigation," he stated, underscoring the commitment to addressing labour rights abuses.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Jiwan Beniwal added that initial findings clearly point to violations of labour laws. "The workers were allegedly brought from another state and subjected to exploitative conditions, which is unacceptable and will be dealt with strictly," he remarked, highlighting the cross-state nature of the exploitation.
This case sheds light on the ongoing challenges of migrant worker exploitation in India, particularly in the construction sector, and underscores the importance of vigilant enforcement of labour protections to prevent such injustices.
