A total of 24 bonded labourers were today rescued from a wood cutting unit in Kancheepuram district, police said.
Based on a complaint by International Justice Mission, a NGO, district administration headed by Revenue Divisional Officer Palaniammal raided the tree-cutting unit in Solakattu Village and rescued five families, who have been living in bondage for nearly five years, they said.
All 24 people, who were brought out of the wood cutting unit belonged to the scheduled tribe and were being taken by the owner to various groves to cut trees, they said.
The victims were being paid a meagre sum of Rs 70 to Rs 100 every four days per family, which was much below the Tamil Nadu government's minimum wage recommendations of Rs 203.78 per day.
After they were rescued, the RDO issued release certificates to 17 bonded labourers, officially identifying them as victims of forced labour and entitling them to government rehabilitation money.
Bonded labour is a severe human rights violation, abolished by Bonded Labour Abolition Act in 1976.
