Rourkela: As many as six tribals including a woman of Lathikata and Gurundia areas in Sundargarh district are having a hard struggle in Kashmir. Their family members approached the Rourkela SP Umashankar Das, pleading with him for rescue of these tribals from virtual bondage.
With the help of Chandiposh social worker Chandamani Sandil, the victims’ family members narrated the ordeal to the SP. They had lodged a complaint with the Chandiposh police, but no help was forthcoming. Now, they are making a fresh push. Among the stranded were Budharam Lohar, Sahay Barwa, Sunil Lohar, Bishal Lohar, Madhab Lohar and his wife Saraswati Lohar.
As per the complaint, middleman (agent) Ram Lohar lured seven tribals with promise of high wages and took them to Kashmir. However, he sold the tribals to some locals in Kashmir, took money, and fled.
The tribals were made to do sweeping, cleaning, cooking and washing utensils in factories and industrial units without any pay. When they asked for money, their employers said they had already paid money to the agent; and then they forced the tribals to work for extra hours. “They assaulted and locked them up in dark rooms if and when they asked for payment. The tribals are not allowed to even contact their families,” one of the workers who escaped from there and returned home said.
“This has been happening for the past 10 years,” the families of the victims said. Agents lured poor tribals with promise of good money and then handed them over to establishments there to work as bonded labour. In a letter to the SP, the families sought action against the middleman and immediate rescue of the workers.