The couple rescued from Amar farmhouse at Ghugh village on Sunday, met deputy commissioner Priyank Bharti here on Tuesday to seek action against the farmhouse owners. The labourers charged the farmhouse owners not only with bonded labour, but also with child labour.
The couple told DC that theirs was a clear case of child labour and bonded labour, but sub divisional magistrate (SDM) Isha Kalia had failed to take any action against the farmhouse owners, Sadhu Singh and Ranjit Singh. Instead, the two alleged being pressured into accepting Rs 25,000 as compensation, which they refused.
Maya alleged that the SDM took them back to the farmhouse for a compromise on Monday, but when they refused to accept their terms, the SDM left them at the farmhouse. Maya's husband Hari Prasad said they wanted action against the employers, their six quintal wheat returned and payment of the pending wages.
Hari said he had been working at the farmhouse for the last five years and was never paid as per the agreement. Kashmir Singh Ghughshore, general secretary of Pendu Mazdoor Union, who also met the DC with the couple, said the DC had assured them of appropriate action.
SDM Isha Kalia, meanwhile, denied that she had forced the couple to compromise with the owners. She added that as per her inquiry, the farmhouse owners were not guilty of either child labour or bonded labour.
SDM Isha Kalia, meanwhile, denied that she had forced the couple to compromise with the owners. She added that as per her inquiry, the farmhouse owners were not guilty of either child labour or bonded labour.