In a statement issued by Samuga Pothunala Iyakkam (TNSPI) General Secretary A.S. Sankarapandian, he said:
Anandhan, aged 40, and his wife Thenmozhi, aged 35, from the Irular community of Singadivakkam Panchayat in Kanchipuram district, had been working for the past six months for a firewood trader named Arumugam in the Vellai Gate area on the Arakkonam Road. They had taken an advance of Rs. 20,000 and had been staying and working in a tarpaulin shelter provided by trader Arumugam. When Thenmozhi, who was pregnant, developed labour pain on 8.9.26, her husband Anandhan tried to take her to hospital.
At that time, trader Arumugam allegedly stopped them and told them that they could not leave without repaying the debt, and reportedly confined the pregnant woman there. In the incident, pregnant Thenmozhi and her newborn baby died at the location. We strongly condemn such an inhumane incident. In connection with this, Ponneri Karai police have registered Crime No. 266/2026 under Section 194 of the BNSS (suspicious death) and Crime No. 267/2026 under Section 3(1)(b) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
In Tamil Nadu, tribal communities including the Irulars are engaged in various informal occupations such as tree cutting, brick kilns and agriculture. This incident has exposed how they are affected through advances received for work. The denial of permission to leave the workplace because of debt and the denial of medical assistance also expose the exploitation and bonded-labour conditions faced by them. Arumugam, who is connected with this incident, should be immediately arrested by also invoking the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976.
Although the Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Benefit Scheme has been functioning to assist pregnant women, the death of this pregnant woman shows that such support is not being properly implemented at workplaces. Therefore, the attendance of an ANM (Auxiliary Nurse Midwife) under the relevant scheme, registration of pregnant women and the responsibility of taking them to hospital should be legally imposed on employers at workplaces. Awareness committees should function at the district level on this issue, and appropriate action should be taken to identify everyone who works after receiving advances, release them and provide rehabilitation.
The Health Department and Labour Department should conduct continuous inspections in settlements such as Singadivakkam. Workers engaged in firewood, brick, construction and various other occupations should also be registered, and minimum wages and social security should be ensured for them. With two lives lost over a debt of Rs. 20,000, the person involved in this incident should be arrested and stringent action taken to prevent similar crimes from continuing. Although laws exist, the continued failure and weakness in enforcement has resulted in innocent lives becoming victims. Only through speedy investigation, stringent action and continuous monitoring can such tragedies be brought to an end.
Headquarters,
Samuga Pothunala Iyakkam.