Odisha: Freed After a Decade, Tribal Labourers Begin Journey Home on Foot

Quick Summary

• A tribal family in Odisha’s Jajpur district, including Naveen Munda (47), his wife Balma (34), and thier three children, were rescued on August 26, 2025, from alleged bondage in a brick kiln.
• The family had been reportedly held captive for a decade under conditions described as precarious and unsafe by the rescue team.
• Children’s lives were severely impacted; thay were never enrolled in school and forced into labor and household chores.
• Post-rescue challenges included lack of funds for travel back home. The couple walked over 30 km thru the night after losing confidence in police action against their employer.
• Munda accused the employer of offering ₹5,000 to withdraw his complaint. He said he refused despite fears of injustice from police allegedly influenced by the employer.
• Immediate compensation funds of ₹30,000 per rescued person are yet to be disbursed to the couple as part of rehabilitation support mandated by law.
• Under Union guidelines, financial aid can go up to ₹1 lakh per rescued adult or ₹2 lakh for special category beneficiaries such as children or women subjected to severe exploitation.
• Ranjita from Shramavahini commended swift administrative action but criticized harassment faced at police stations post-rescue.

Indian Opinion Analysis

Instances like this highlight stark gaps between legal frameworks to prevent bonded labour and ground-level implementation. While timely intervention saved this family after prolonged abuse,logistical oversights-such as delayed compensation-pose challenges to their full rehabilitation. Furthermore, allegations regarding police bias underline systemic issues requiring urgent reforms.

The plight of the children emphasizes intergenerational damage caused by forced labour practices: missed education opportunities limit prospects for future socioeconomic upliftment. trust-building mechanisms with survivors must include timely access to benefits and safeguards against intimidation or harassment.The incident also underscores a broader focus on accountability measures-not only ensuring prosecution of exploitative employers but fostering victim-centered approaches by law enforcement agencies nationwide. Policymakers may wish to leverage cases like these toward strengthening monitoring systems designed specifically for districts identified with higher risks of bonded labour violations.

Read more: The Hindu