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Documented on the original SlaveryMap (2008–2016). We don’t have a verifiable source on file yet. Know one?
What happened
According to India Times, the owner of the SLG Brick Chamber, Neela Krishna Mohan Rao, procured workers, including whole familes, from a middleman, for "advances" ranging from 3,000 to 7,000 rupees. The laborers were made to work inside the brick chamber from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m, and during the rest of the day, to form bricks and dry them under the sun before placing them in the chamber to burn. According to the India Times, the workers were housed in small huts; many were sick and malnourished; and some had scars and other evidence of torture. The workers alleged they were tortured if they attempted to flee.
Response and intervention
See above. K. Bhola, one of the laborers, managed to escape and telephone his brother. The brother contacted authorities and a team comprised of revenue officials and members of International Justice Mission, an NGO, inspected the kiln, followed by a subsequent raid. The raid resulted in the rescue of 522 people from 143 families, including 132 children. According to Ponneri revenue division officer S. Kandaswamy, who led the raid, the victims received certificates identifying them as victims of forced labor and entitling them to goverment rehabilitation funds, and also 1,000 rupees each. Also after the rescue operation, a health camp was organized at the Ponneri government higher secondary school.