Bonded labourers meet collector

CHENNAI: A total of 250 victims of bonded labour have submitted petitions to Shivashanmuga Raj, collector of Kancheepuram district, seeking help to avail of various government schemes including community certificate, ration card, voter’s identification card, here on Wednesday.The 82 families were released from bonded labour by in 2003, but were not able to avail welfare benefits due to their working condition.Mariammal, one of the victims, visited the collector ‘s officewith her family and said. “We are leading a decent life working as wage labourers, but were not able to avail of welfare benefits due to working condition,” she added.