Around 100 migrant Adivasi workers from Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district have returned to their home state over the past two days, alleging physical assault, harassment and non-payment of wages at a textile unit in Namakkal district of Tamil Nadu, as reported in Indian Express.
According to the workers, tensions escalated at the factory following disputes over working conditions, food and the behaviour of staff. Anil Samad, a resident of the Chakradharpur area, stated that several youths from his region had been working at the unit for the past few years, while his group had joined three to four months ago. He said that when workers raised concerns and expressed their intention to leave, factory staff allegedly assaulted them and warned them against exiting the premises.
Workers reported that the situation worsened after an internal dispute at the factory, during which some employees were allegedly beaten. Manki Hessa, a worker from Khutpani village, stated that he was assaulted following a disagreement over work. He said that he was first slapped and then beaten with sticks and machine parts, resulting in swelling in his hand. He further stated that the cost of medical treatment following the incident was borne by fellow workers.
Hessa also alleged that when a number of workers collectively demanded to leave the factory, the management and staff responded with further physical assault. Workers additionally claimed that women employees were subjected to harassment and violence.
A woman worker, Priska Horo, also from Khutpani village, alleged that she was physically assaulted when she attempted to leave the premises. She stated that while there had been no major issues in the initial months, harassment by factory personnel had intensified recently. She alleged that she was mishandled and beaten by a staff member and said that a video of the incident had been recorded by Hessa. She further stated that workers were initially prevented from leaving the premises, forcing some to escape by climbing walls or leaving secretly.
Workers also alleged that they did not receive pending wages and had to arrange travel expenses on their own to return home. Samad stated that many had to borrow money from family members to purchase tickets.
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According to the workers, approximately 250 to 300 individuals from Jharkhand had been employed at the unit, of whom around half have returned so far. Others are expected to arrive in the coming days.
Following the circulation of videos related to the incident on social media, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren took cognisance of the matter and directed the administration to examine the issue.
Officials from the Labour Department stated that the workers had been recruited three to four months ago through an agent to work in textile production at the Namakkal unit. They said that the matter was reported to the state Migrant Control Room on April 22, after which the department contacted the workers and coordinated their return.
Authorities further stated that the workers had complained of lack of basic facilities and ill-treatment at the workplace. They confirmed that the returning workers had boarded a train from Salem to travel back to Jharkhand.
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