Bonded labourers, including six children, rescued from brick kiln in Bagalkot

As many as 34 bonded labourers, including six child labourers, were rescued by officials of the Bagalkot district administration during a recent operation.

The team led by Deputy Commissioner Sangappa, district Labour Welfare officer Ramesh and police personnel, rescued 34 bonded labourers, all hailing from Odisha, from a brick kiln in the district.

The labourers were held captive at the kiln since November 2025. The workers, including the children, were forced to work over 16 hours a day with hardly any breaks. They were not allowed to go out of the kiln as a family.

While being exploited, the bonded labourers never received the wages promised to them, Susheela, director of the NGO Spandana, said in a release.

The person who employed them was absconding, taking away the Aadhaar cards of the victims. The police registered an FIR based on a complaint, the release said.

They were promised ₹20,000 to ₹30,000 but got only around ₹8,000. The victims said that the kiln owner and his son had abused them physically and verbally.

The rescued workers were currently lodged in a government hostel and would be sent back to their native village after formalities were being carried out.

Since December 2025, 99 individuals have been rescued from bondage in Bagalkot District from three brick kilns and one sugarcane farm. This year marks the 50th year of passing of the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, the release said.