Chennai: She Left Her Son as Loan Collateral — What Happened Next Will Break Your Heart

Chennai: What began as a desperate bid to escape exploitation ended in unimaginable grief for Anakamma, a woman from the vulnerable Yanadi tribal community in Tirupati. Forced to leave one of her sons behind as collateral for a Rs 25,000 loan, she returned months later with the money — only to discover her son was dead and buried in secrecy across state lines.

Collateral for a Loan: How a Child Was Held Hostage

Anakamma, along with her late husband Chenchaiah and three sons, had been working under a duck rearer for a year. After Chenchaiah’s death, the employer refused to let the family leave, citing an unpaid loan. When Anakamma pleaded to leave the exploitative job, she was given a cruel option: pay Rs 45,000 (including interest) or leave one of her children behind. With no choice, she left her son, believing she’d return soon to reunite.

Heartbreaking Phone Calls: “Come Take Me Back”

Occasionally allowed to speak to her son over the phone, Anakamma heard her child pleading for help. He told her he was being overworked and begged her to come get him. The last time she spoke to him was in April. Shortly after, her former employer began dodging questions, spinning lies about the boy’s whereabouts.

A Web of Lies Unravels

By late April, Anakamma managed to collect the Rs 45,000 — an enormous burden on a tribal woman — but her employer kept changing his story. He first claimed the boy was elsewhere, then that he was in a hospital, and finally that he had “run away.” Alarmed and suspicious, Anakamma sought help from tribal leaders and went to the police.

The Horrifying Truth: Buried in Tamil Nadu

Police launched an investigation and interrogated the duck rearer. It was then that the horrifying truth came out: the boy had died and was secretly buried in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu. On Tuesday, a police team exhumed the child’s body while his mother wept beside the grave, a picture of pain and helplessness.

Legal Crackdown: Arrests and Action

Following the confession, police arrested the duck rearer, his wife, and their son. A case was registered under multiple stringent laws, including the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, Child Labour Act, SC/ST Atrocities Act, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The boy’s body has undergone post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death.

Administration Reacts, But Too Late

Tirupati Collector Venkateswar confirmed the arrest and shared that CCTV footage had shown the boy being taken to a hospital. “The family says the boy died of jaundice, but he was buried secretly and the mother wasn’t informed,” he said. The clandestine burial, even if due to natural causes, points to the deep fear of legal repercussions the employers likely anticipated.

Systemic Exploitation of Yanadi Tribals

Activists have raised alarm over the widespread exploitation of the Yanadi tribal community in Andhra Pradesh. Often tricked by loan advances and trapped in cycles of bonded labour, these families are particularly at risk. Recently, 50 bonded workers from the community were rescued, shedding light on a systemic problem that continues to persist.

A Call for Justice and Dignity

Anakamma’s heartbreaking story is not just about one child, but about a community pushed to the margins, preyed upon by those who see their desperation as an opportunity. Her story demands urgent reforms, stricter enforcement of bonded labour laws, and compassion-driven governance.

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