Chennai: Two Women & Minor Held As Bonded Labourers, Assaulted Over Unpaid Debt; Rescued

Reports indicate that Rasheeda physically assaulted them, branding them with hot iron for minor mistakes, according to statements made by the police.

The trio, who hailed from Andhra Pradesh, reportedly began working for Rasheeda's family after their families borrowed 1 lakh each in 2019.

Source : Pixabay

Chennai news: Two women and a 17-year-old girl were rescued from harsh working conditions in Valasaravakkam on Monday. According to police, the victims, aged 20 and 17, were employed as domestic workers in the home of 49-year-old Rasheeda. The trio, who hailed from Andhra Pradesh, reportedly began working for Rasheeda's family after their families borrowed 1 lakh each in 2019.

The victims, identified as Reshma and Sandhya, were allegedly subjected to severe abuse, working tirelessly from 4 AM to 11 PM daily without any breaks, performing household chores and caring for Rasheeda’s pets. Reports indicate that Rasheeda physically assaulted them, branding them with hot iron for minor mistakes, according to statements made by the police, as per a report on Times of India.

The rescue mission was prompted by a complaint from S Thangapandian, a Village Administrative Officer, who reported seeing five individuals, including two children, in bonded conditions at Rasheeda’s residence, as per a report on India Today. The police have placed the rescued young women in government care facilities for rehabilitation.

Rasheeda now faces charges under multiple provisions of the Bonded Labour System Abolition Act of 1976, as well as sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita (BNS) and the Juvenile Justice Act. 

This incident highlights a grim trend, with recent reports showing an increase in bonded labour cases. In the 2023-2024 fiscal year, Labour Minister CV Ganesan disclosed that over 330 bonded labourers, including 65 children, were rescued from various industries across Tamil Nadu, as per the report . 

The rescue operation comes just days after another tragic incident involving a 15-year-old girl employed as a babysitter, who was reportedly tortured and beaten to death. Six people, including the couple who hired her, have since been arrested. Police have invoked the POCSO Act in this case, though further details remain undisclosed.'