Having Lived As Bonded Labour In Andaman For 35 Years, This 70-YO Jharkhand Man Is Finally Home

Fucha Mahli says he is living a moment that he thought would never come true - to meet his family and live with them again.

That is because the 70-year-old had been away from home nearly half of his life, not knowing if and when he would be able to see them again.

It all began some 35 years ago, when Mahli, a resident of Jharkhand's Bishunpur in Gumla district was taken to Andaman & Nicobar Islands to work as a labourer there.

Shubh Sandesh Foundation

But things did not go as planned and the company that took him to the island closed down, leaving him abandoned.

"I was taken to Andamans more than three decades back by a ship from Kolkata to work for a company. However, the company closed down after a year and I was forced to beg alms for livelihood when a local `Mahajan' (money lender) snatched all my papers in North Middle Andaman and for over three decades I have been serving him in lieu of food," Mahli told PTI.

Mahli said his days in Andamans began with cutting wood and caring for the Mahajan named Sudeep, in exchange for food.

Shubh Sandesh Foundation

However, things took an unexpected turn, after his family, including sons Ramatu and Pradeep Mahli and daughter Chero Devi approached Labour department officials and an NGO Shubh Sandesh Foundation, which has been active in the release of migrant workers in various parts of the country.

According to Shubh Sandesh Foundation's executive Daniel Ponraj "Mahli was not given a single penny during all these three decades. His only possession is a radio set."

Shubh Sandesh Foundation

Ponraj added "Mahli went by boat three decades ago and returned by plane. He had lost all hopes to ever see his wife or children. The bonded labourer is a free man now."

Following the intervention of Chief Minister Hemant Soren and the NGO, Mahli was located with help of officials in Andaman and freed.

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¡ª Office of Chief Minister, Jharkhand (@JharkhandCMO) September 3, 2021

"I had never dreamt of this day when I will come home ... I had abandoned all hopes to see my family. It is all thanks to Chief Minister Hemant Soren and NGO Shubh Sandesh that I am able to see this day in my life," Mahli said.