Uttarakhand man kept as ‘bonded labourer’ for 15 years rescued in Punjab’s Tarn Taran
In a shocking incident that exposes the dark side of rural employment, a man from Uttarakhand has regained his freedom after working as a bonded labourer for 15 years. Authorities rescued him from a brick kiln in Punjab’s Tarn Taran district after a tip-off from an activist group.
Trapped Since 2009
Mohan Singh (name changed), a 42-year-old man from Pauri Garhwal in Uttarakhand, left his village in 2009. He hoped to earn money after crop failures ruined his family’s income. A contractor promised him steady wages at a brick kiln in Punjab. But when Mohan arrived, the reality turned grim.
The contractor took his ID and told him he had to repay a debt. That debt, however, never reduced. Mohan worked long hours every day, with no break, no salary, and no contact with his family. “I came to earn. But they turned me into a slave,” he said after the rescue.
Brutal Conditions
Mohan lived in a small, locked room and worked from sunrise to sunset. The kiln owners gave him poor food and no wages. Any protest or question brought threats or beatings. “They treated me like a machine. I was afraid to even speak,” he recalled.
Other workers feared speaking up, and the kiln operators used threats to control them. Mohan didn’t have the freedom to leave or talk to anyone outside the kiln. Years passed with no hope of escape.
Rescue After a Tip-Off
A former labourer who had once escaped from the same kiln alerted a local activist. That activist contacted a Delhi-based NGO working against bonded labour. The NGO verified the details and approached officials in Tarn Taran.
On June 25, a team of labour officers, police, and NGO workers conducted a surprise raid. They found Mohan in a weak and frightened state. “He couldn’t believe he was free,” said one member of the rescue team. “He thought no one would ever come for him.”
Legal Action and Rehabilitation
Police have filed an FIR against the kiln owner and two others. Charges include violations under the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act and sections of the Indian Penal Code.
Officials are helping Mohan under the Centre’s rehabilitation scheme. He will receive financial aid, free health care, and skill training to restart his life. “We are doing everything we can to help him recover,” said District Labour Officer Jaspreet Kaur.
Still a Widespread Problem
India banned bonded labour in 1976. But this cruel practice still exists, especially in rural industries like brick kilns, farming, and construction. Workers from poor and remote areas often fall into debt traps. They are promised money or jobs but are then forced to work without pay or freedom.
A 2023 report by the International Labour Organization estimated that millions of Indians face some form of forced labour. Lack of awareness, weak law enforcement, and fear of retaliation allow such practices to continue unchecked.
Family Overjoyed After 15 Years
Back in Uttarakhand, Mohan’s family is relieved. They had not heard from him in years and believed he was dead. His elderly mother broke down in tears after hearing he was safe. “I had lost hope. Now I just want him home,” she said.
The local administration has promised to bring Mohan home safely and help him reconnect with his family.
Call for Stronger Oversight
Activists say this case proves how easily people can disappear into forced labour networks. “If one man could go unnoticed for 15 years, think about how many others are still out there,” said a worker from the rescue NGO. They are urging the government to improve inspections and provide more support to migrant workers.
Mohan’s story, while deeply painful, ends in rescue and hope. But it also raises urgent questions: How many more remain trapped? And what steps can India take to truly end bonded labour?
