Families Trapped in Forced Labor at Karnataka Quarry for 25 Years

For nearly 30 years, generations of the Bhovi community were forced into bonded labor at a stone quarry in Tumakuru, Karnataka. They endured long shifts, daily beatings, and debts with compound interest that passed from parents to children. Purushothaman, forced to work since age nine despite a severe arm injury, described the harsh conditions. His father, also a quarry worker, died by suicide. The debt system kept families trapped in bondage.

Tip: use ↑ / ↓ (or j / k) to move between stories.