Mysuru: Twenty-eight members of the Soliga tribal community, including children, were rescued from alleged bonded labour at a brick kiln in Bevinahalli village of T Narasipura taluk in Mysuru district on June 22, exposing a disturbing case of exploitation, confinement and alleged physical abuse spanning nearly eight years.

The rescue operation was jointly carried out by the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), the Tahsildar, the Labour Department, the Department of Women and Child Development and the Bannur police, with support from non-governmental organisations Vikasana and Madilu.

Authorities have registered a case at the Bannur Police Station under the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to trafficking, wrongful confinement, assault against women and voluntarily causing hurt.

Escape of labourer leads to rescue operation

The case came to light after one of the labourers managed to escape from the brick kiln on June 19 and contacted NGO Madilu seeking help.

The organisation subsequently alerted Vikasana, which coordinated with government officials and law enforcement agencies to facilitate a rescue operation.

According to NGO representatives, the kiln owners allegedly discovered the labourer’s escape before officials could intervene. The escaped worker, along with his wife and mother-in-law, was reportedly tracked down and assaulted the night before the rescue operation.

Vibha Varghese, Chief Executive Officer of Vikasana, alleged that the escaped labourer was severely beaten and that his wife and mother-in-law also sustained serious injuries during the assault.

Following the complaint, the NGOs approached the Mysuru Superintendent of Police and the DLSA, leading to the rescue of all 28 labourers on June 22.

Families trapped in debt for years

Of the 28 rescued persons, 16 are from villages around T Narasipura, while two belong to Tamil Nadu’s Vellore district. Most of the workers had migrated from Tamil Nadu several years ago before settling in Karnataka.

All of the rescued labourers belong to the Soliga community, a Scheduled Tribe.

According to NGO representatives, many of the workers had accepted advances of around ₹25,000 from the kiln owners and subsequently became trapped in a cycle of debt and bonded labour for nearly eight years.

Despite working for long hours over several years, the labourers allegedly received extremely low wages and remained indebted to the employers.

One family reportedly worked from 5 am to 6 pm every day for eight years after accepting an advance payment. The parents and their two sons, aged nine and 13, allegedly earned only between ₹500 and ₹1,000 a week.

The younger child reportedly attended school but was allegedly required to work before and after classes and during weekends.

Restrictions and allegations of abuse

The rescued labourers alleged that they were subjected to strict restrictions on their movement and personal freedom.

According to statements given to authorities, rice supplied by the employer was sold to the workers at ₹30 per kilogram, with the amount deducted from their already meagre wages.

The labourers also alleged that only one male member from each family was permitted to leave the kiln premises when necessary, while women and children remained confined.

They claimed they were not allowed to visit relatives, attend family functions or travel outside the premises without permission.

Victims further alleged that they were subjected to physical violence whenever they sought leave or questioned the working conditions.

Rehabilitation process begins

The rescued workers, aged between nine and 50 years, underwent medical examinations after the rescue operation. Several of them were reportedly found to have injuries and are receiving medical treatment.

A formal inquiry into the case was initiated by the Tahsildar on June 23.

Officials are currently processing release certificates and compensation under the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976. Under the law, each rescued labourer is entitled to a release certificate and immediate compensation of ₹30,000.

Many of the survivors reportedly have no homes to return to after spending years at the brick kiln. The district administration has temporarily accommodated them in a social welfare hostel while long-term rehabilitation measures are being explored.

The incident has once again highlighted the continued existence of bonded labour practices despite legal prohibitions and has raised concerns about the vulnerability of tribal communities to exploitation and debt bondage.