Jalgaon admin facilitates release of two women held as bonded workers
bonded workers
by a
jaggery unit owner
. There were six children with these two women, officials said.
The owner had reportedly demanded Rs 3 lakh from the workers. He claimed to have paid the money to the contractor for hiring the workers. District officials came to know about the incident after the husbands of these two men managed to escape and narrated their ordeal to a local NGO.
Jalgaon collector Ayush Prasad said, "The two families, hailing from Bodwad taluka of Jalgaon district, were taken by a contractor (or mukadam) to Daund taluka in Pune district. They were held captive by the owner of a jaggery house where they were working since Feb this year. The district administration, upon receiving the information, facilitated their release on April 20 and is now taking measures for their rehabilitation."
"The labourers were held by the owner who had paid money to the contractor and now wanted it back. Our officials got to the root of the issue and then took action," Prasad said.
A complaint has been lodged with local police regarding the same. The collector said, "The administration has now started taking measures, including ensuring Aadhaar numbers, job cards through rural employment guarantee scheme, and enrolment of eligible women in Ladki Bahin Yojana, along with all other govt schemes they are eligible for. An officer has been assigned for the job."
It was an NGO, Jan Sahas Foundation, that works for the development of migrant workers, which received a complaint from two men who managed to flee from the jaggery house. The NGO then sought the help of the district administration in securing the release of their wives and children.
Nilesh Shinde, district coordinator, Jan Sahas Foundation, Jalgaon, said that Sonu Suresh Bhil and Ankush Amber Bhil, both aged around 30, were approached by the contractor who offered an advance of Rs 50,000 to each family for working in the cane factory in Daund taluka in Sept 2024.
"They worked for four months at the sugar factory and then at the jaggery house in Daund taluka. The owner of the jaggery house did not allow them the freedom to go to the market, tracked their phones, and recorded their calls, the two claimed," said Shinde.
Shinde pointed out that the owners allegedly wanted back Rs 3 lakh they paid to the contractor as an advance for not providing the required number of workers.
Deputy superintendent of police Bapurao Dadas said an investigation was on in the case. "There are two versions about this case. While bonded labour is being alleged, the jaggery owner has claimed to have made arrangements for food, stay and safety of women and children. The investigations are ongoing, and based on the outcome, further steps on registration of the FIR will be taken."
The families rescued were presented in front of collector Ayush Prasad at his office on Wednesday. On seeing that the children didn't have footwear, the collector got a pair of shoes for them.
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