Authorities in Tiruvallur rescued 39 migrant labourers from Odisha who were allegedly being held in exploitative conditions at a brick kiln in Vannipakkam village near Ponneri.

The rescue operation was carried out by Revenue officials, along with the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), after an inspection at the site.

Officials said the workers, all from Odisha’s Balangir district, had arrived at the kiln about five months ago after reportedly receiving advance payments of nearly ₹30,000 each.

During the inspection, the labourers alleged that they were assaulted and forced to continue working inside the kiln.

Women workers reportedly told officials that they were beaten if they resisted work.

Lack of basic amenities

They were also living without access to basic facilities such as toilets, drinking water or fans or even privacy at the site.

Seven children were also found living on the premises, including a 17-year-old who had allegedly been engaged in labour, the official said. The workers were paid only ₹65 a day.

The latest rescue comes amid repeated instances of bonded labour being reported from brick kilns in Tiruvallur district.

In March this year, 78 bonded labourers, including 21 children from Odisha’s Balangir district, were rescued from another brick kiln during a raid by district authorities. Officials had then said the workers were living without proper drinking water or toilet facilities and had been brought to the kiln after advances of ₹30,000 to ₹35,000 were paid to each labourer.

After the latest operation, the rescued workers were shifted to a nearby school where officials began procedures to issue release certificates, open bank accounts, and provide interim rehabilitation assistance of ₹30,000 each.

Arrangements are also being made to send them back to Odisha, the DLSA official said.

Authorities said that some local Tamil workers were employed at the kiln as well, but only the Odisha labourers requested that they be released during the inspection.