The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Tuesday issued notice to the Tamil Nadu Government over steps taken for the rehabilitation of more than 500 bonded labourers from Odisha and Chattisgarh, who were rescued in Thiruvallur district recently.

The notice follows reports that 550 bonded labourers, including women, from Chhattisgarh and six districts of Odisha were rescued from a brick kiln in Tiruvallur district. The labourers, according to the NHRC notice, belonged to 180 families and were made to work from 3 in the morning for a weekly wage of Rs.400 per family, at Pondavakkam in Ponneri Taluk. They were reportedly paid advance money before they were brought to Tamil Nadu in January to work in the brick kilns.

The Commission has demanded a report from the Secretary, Labour Department within two weeks, including information on the steps taken to rehabilitate them and the release amount paid to them.