Guna Administration Rescues 26 Tribal Workers Allegedly Held Without Pay in Maharashtra Sugarcane Fields

The Guna district administration has rescued 26 tribal labourers who were allegedly trafficked to Maharashtra and forced to work in sugarcane fields without wages, highlighting persistent vulnerabilities faced by migrant workers from central India.

According to officials, the labourers—mostly from the Sahariya tribal community—belonged to Amrod, Umri, Sirsi and Parsoda villages in Guna district. They were reportedly taken to Maharashtra after being promised daily wages of ₹600 for sugarcane harvesting. Instead, they were allegedly made to work long hours, given only food, denied payment, and prevented from returning home.

---

How the Exploitation Came to Light

District officials said the workers were mobilised through a local middleman, identified as Bunty Sahariya of Umri village, who arranged their placement with a contractor named Raghunath in Maharashtra. After spending weeks under exploitative conditions, the labourers managed to contact authorities in Guna and describe their situation.

Following this information, the district collector directed the labour department to take immediate action. A rescue team was formed, which coordinated with district administrations and labour officials in Maharashtra to trace and bring the workers back safely to Madhya Pradesh.

“All 26 labourers have now returned to Guna and are safe,” a senior district official told reporters, adding that the workers later visited the collectorate to formally recount their experiences.

---

Administrative Response and Legal Action

The Guna administration has ordered strict action against all intermediaries involved, invoking relevant provisions of labour and anti-trafficking laws. Officials said investigations are underway to determine violations related to bonded labour, illegal recruitment, and denial of wages.

Authorities have also instructed field officers to increase vigilance in vulnerable tribal areas, where families are often targeted by informal labour agents offering seasonal work in other states.

---

A Wider Pattern of Abuse

The rescue has also exposed a broader problem of migrant labour exploitation in Maharashtra’s sugarcane-growing regions. Officials confirmed that more tribal workers from the Mungawali area of neighbouring Ashoknagar district are believed to be stranded in Solapur under similar circumstances.

Families of those workers had approached local MLA Brijendra Singh Yadav after losing contact with them. While Maharashtra police later located the group, relatives alleged that employers shifted the workers to another site to avoid scrutiny and continued to restrict their movement.

Two labourers reportedly escaped and returned to their villages, informing residents that wages were withheld and freedom of movement was curtailed. Madhya Pradesh police said they remain in constant communication with Maharashtra authorities to ensure the safe return of all remaining workers.

---

Why This Matters

Seasonal migration from Madhya Pradesh to Maharashtra’s sugarcane belt has long been driven by poverty, lack of local employment, and dependence on informal labour networks. Labour rights experts warn that without stricter regulation of contractors and better inter-state enforcement, such cases of exploitation will continue.

“This is not an isolated incident,” said a labour rights activist working with tribal communities in central India. “The absence of written contracts, weak oversight, and workers’ lack of awareness make them easy targets for exploitation.”

---

What Lies Ahead

Officials said the rescued workers will be assessed for rehabilitation benefits under existing government schemes. Meanwhile, the case has renewed calls for stronger monitoring of labour migration, mandatory registration of contractors, and greater accountability across state borders.

As authorities work to bring back other stranded workers, the incident serves as a reminder of the risks faced by India’s most vulnerable migrants—and the urgent need for systemic safeguards to protect them.