Dindori bonded labourers rescued

Bhopal: In a special drive, the Dindori district administration rescued 26 labourers stranded in Telangana for nearly three months and brought them back home, ensuring that their pending wages of around Rs 5.96 lakh were paid.The workers, hailing from villages under Mehandwani block in Dindori district, had gone to Bhadrachalam area for chilli harvesting work in January. However, even after completion of the agreed period, they alleged they were neither paid their dues nor allowed to return, leaving them stranded in a distressing situation.The matter came to light during a public grievance hearing on March 31, when a family member of one of the workers approached district authorities seeking intervention. Taking serious note, the administration constituted a joint team of labour, revenue and police officials and coordinated with authorities in Telangana to secure the release of the workers.With the help of a local voluntary organisation, all 26 labourers were safely brought back to Dindori on Thursday. Upon arrival, their health check-up was conducted, and officials facilitated the recovery and payment of their pending wages.Officials said the workers had also lodged a complaint through a toll-free helpline, which further expedited the action. The administration has advised labourers to exercise caution before accepting work offers outside the state and assured that adequate employment opportunities are available locally under government schemes.