Seven tribals including two children rescued from bonded labour in Tirupattur

Seven individuals, including two children and a pregnant woman, were freed from bonded labor at mango farms in Naickaneri village near Ambur town, Tirupattur, on July 23, 2025. The rescue followed a tip-off to Collector K. Sivasoundaravalli about bonded labor in the Naickaneri hills. A team led by Vaniyambadi Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) Ajitha Begum verified the situation and conducted surprise inspections at mango groves, agricultural lands, and vegetable gardens, with support from the District Labour Welfare Officer, Ambur Tahsildar, and Ambur Taluk police.

The rescued individuals, from two Irular families native to Pakkampalayam village near Odugathur, Vellore, had borrowed ₹10,000 from a contractor named Mahavishnu. He leased 67 acres of farmland in the hills and forced the families to work to repay the advance. They endured grueling hours from 5:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. daily, including Sundays, facing verbal abuse, non-payment of wages, and inhumane conditions. Their tasks included cattle rearing, vegetable cultivation, and maintaining mango groves without proper rest or food.

After the rescue, the families received Release Certificates and financial aid from RDO Ajitha Begum and were allowed to return to their village. Ambur Taluk police registered a case against Mahavishnu, and an investigation is ongoing.