Consecutive rescues in India bring freedom and highlight increasing government dependability

In three separate cases at the end of June 2024, Tamil Nadu government authorities led rescue operations of children and adults trapped in bonded labour with support from local IJM partners.

The government authorities welcomed support from local NGOs in addressing these bonded labour cases that spanned multiple different industries. IJM is working in Tamil Nadu to empower organizations across the state to work with local governments and equip them to respond to bonded labour cases effectively. Successful rescues led by the local government authorities highlight a justice system working to end forced labour.

Exploited laborers successfully petition local government, leading to the rescue of three workers from a brick kiln

Government authorities responded to the pleas of labourers who had escaped from a brick kiln and led a rescue operation, freeing three people from bonded labour.

Five people had been working at the brick kiln for the past year to repay an advance that they had taken from the owner. They were not paid any wages and were not allowed to leave the worksite. The exploitation drove them to take a daring step—they all fled. But on June 21, the owner came to their village and forcefully took three of the five labourers back to the worksite.

The two labourers who were left behind sought help from a local IJM partner NGO, Foundation for Sustainable Development (FSD). With their assistance, one of the labourers submitted a petition before the government, requesting them to rescue the victims from the worksite. On June 23, the government led the rescue, issued Release Certificates to three labourers, and reunited them with their families. The Release Certificate is a document that formally cancels their debts and frees them.

One of the victims said, “We trusted the government officials and submitted the petition that they would take necessary action to rescue us from bondage. Our trust did not go in vain. Now we have freedom. It brings happiness and joy to our family. I am so glad that I am going to meet my daughter who is studying in class three and that we are going to be together.”

Two trafficked boys rescued from bonded labour on a duck farm

Tamil Nadu authorities rescued two minor boys who had been trafficked from neighboring state Andhra Pradesh and forced to work at a duck farm in Tamil Nadu on June 24.

The boys, aged 10 and 13, had been forced to work for a month to repay a loan of 30,000 rupees ($360 USD) that their parents had taken from the owner. The government freed the boys by issuing Release Certificates.

SHED India, a local NGO assisted the government in leading this rescue. They will continue to extend ongoing support in pursuing legal action against the offender and in rehabilitating the boys. Currently the boys are under the care of Tamil Nadu government’s Child Welfare Committee.

A man who had lost his childhood to forced labor, rescued from a goat farm at age 19

The government rescued a 19-year-old man who spent his entire childhood working as a bonded labourer at a goat farm. The youngster was only seven years old when his parents left him to work at the farm to repay their mounting debts. For the next 12 years, he was forced to work in exploitative conditions and could not return home when he desired. Tragically, the boy was so isolated that he lost contact with his parents.

On June 24, 2024, the government led the rescue operation with support from a local organization named Child Voice, which is a part of a coalition of NGOs called Shout For Freedom, that works to address human trafficking in Tamil Nadu. Officials cancelled the young man’s debts by issuing a Release Certificate.

The State Program Director of Tamil Nadu, T. Kuralamuthan stated, “It is heartening to see the perseverance of Shout for Freedom Coalition’s organization, Child Voice. The head of Child Voice worked alongside the local government to follow the standard operating procedure of the bonded labour identification process. In this case the labourer was exploited for over 12 years, and he has lost his entire childhood to the exploitative nature of bonded labour crime. The young man will now be taking baby steps in his newfound life in freedom.”

The government, in consultation with Child Voice and IJM, will work together to extend ongoing rehabilitation support to the young survivor.