Boy freed from bonded labour

By Our Staff Reporter

CUDDAPAH, MAY 11. A 16-year-old boy, P. Sai Kumar, belonging to Thalapanur village in Gopalpet mandal in Mahabubnagar district, was liberated from bonded labour by district officials in Cuddapah on Friday.

A contractor of Mahabubnagar district was said to have brought the boy with him to Siddhavatam, about 25 km from here, six months ago and deployed him in work with Krishna Mohan Constructions, a company executing the State Express highway from Cuddapah to Renigunta. The contractor had paid Rs. 16,000 to the poverty-stricken parents of the boy, who were labourers, and took him away as a bonded labourer. He had not being paying any wages to the boy, but merely provided food for the last six months and deployed him on work with Krishna Mohan Constructions, a company executing the State Express highway from Cuddapah to Renigunta.

The boy had suffered fracture of his hand recently, but the contractor allegedly did not care to extend medical treatment to him. When the contractor recently visited Mahabubnagar district, the boy's parents questioned him on the whereabouts of their son, but he refused to divulge his whereabouts. Sensing foul play and apprehending danger to the boy, the parents submitted a representation to the Mahabubnagar Collector, who in turn addressed a letter to the Cuddapah Collector, Mr. Adhar Sinha, to enquire if the said boy was engaged in work anywhere in Cuddapah district.

Thereupon, Mr. Sinha directed the Rajampet Revenue Divisional Officer, Mr. O. Seshaiah, to enquire and ascertain the facts. After an intensive search during the last three months, the Assistant Commissioner of Labour, Mr. Narasimhulu, Rajampet RDO and the Siddhavatam mandal revenue officer, Mr. Abdul Hameed, traced the boy and the contractor concerned who engaged him as bonded labour.

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Section  : Southern States
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