Bonded Labourer In Andamans For 35 Years, Jharkhand Man Returns Home

Some 35 years back Fucha Mahli, a resident of Jharkhand's Bishunpur in Gumla district was taken to Andaman & Nicobar islands to work as a labourer

Unable to control the tears rolling down his cheeks, Fucha Mahli, 70 reunited with his family in Jharkhand after 35 long years working as a virtual bonded labour across the seas in the former penal colony of Andamans. Some 35 years back Mahli, a resident of Jharkhand''s Bishunpur in Gumla district was taken to Andaman & Nicobar islands to work as a labourer. "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 telephonically in a choked voiced. He said "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.