In a major rescue operation, 40 bonded labourers from Odisha and Chhattisgarh were saved from shrimp processing units in Tangutur mandal, Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh.
The workers had been trapped in harsh conditions and were not paid their proper wages. But on Tuesday, District Collector A. Thameem Ansariya stepped in and issued official relief certificates to all the rescued labourers at her camp office in Ongole.
She gave clear instructions to authorities to make sure the workers receive their pending wages as per legal norms. She also arranged for special transportation so they could return safely to their hometowns.
This rescue brings attention to the ongoing exploitation of migrant labourers in the seafood processing industry. Many workers, especially from states like Odisha and Chhattisgarh, often fall into the trap of bonded labour in hopes of earning a living.
Officials are expected to further investigate the shrimp units involved and take action against those responsible.
This move has been welcomed by human rights groups and labour activists who have long demanded stricter checks in the aquaculture sector, especially in Andhra Pradesh, a major hub for shrimp exports.
The district administration’s swift response is being seen as a step in the right direction to protect vulnerable labourers and ensure justice.
Image source: The New Indian Express