Days after Maharashtra police rescued 11 labourers who were being held captive by a contractor in Osmanabad district of Maharashtra, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued a notice to the State Government over the issue.
The NHRC had observed that the Provisions of the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976 had been grossly violated by the contractor in this case. The incident clearly indicated the failure of the local administration to safeguard the labourers from such brutality committed upon them by the contractors, without any fear of the law. The officers who failed to do their lawful duty were required to be dealt with as per law.
The workers had been kept chained and forced to work 12 hours a day, without any wages, digging a well for the accused. The labourers had been given food just once a day and were forced to relieve themselves inside the well itself.
