Death Of Nine-Year-Old Dalit Boy Exposes The Dark Underbelly Of Duck Rearing And Bonded Labour In Andhra

On May 21, police teams from Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu were directed to a spot near Palar River in Kanchipuram, TN. By 5 PM, the teams were able to find the body of a nine-year-old missing boy from the sandy grave.

His mother, Ankamma, 32— who kept sitting next to the burial site throughout the digging process—was devastated after identifying her dead son, Venkatesh. The fact that his body was found about 100 kilometres from where he was last employed—in Sathyavedu, a town in Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh—narrates the grim tale involving the social ills of debt, exploitation and bonded labour.

Ankamma and her husband Prakash were employed in a lemon farm in Nellore district of Andhra. He received a monthly salary of Rs 10,000 and Ankamma was paid daily wages. Her three children—two sons and one daughter—from her previous marriage continued to live with the biological father due to the financial constraints faced by Ankamma, who belongs to the economically impoverished Yanadi tribe in Andhra.

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She left her first husband to escape the vicious cycle of constant verbal and physical abuse under the influence of alcohol but little did she know that she was about to get entangled in another vicious cycle that would eventually lead to the tragic death of her youngest son.

In 2023, Ankamma’s mother, who was employed in cattle rearing in Sathyavedu in Tamil Nadu, informed her of an employment opportunity at a sweet shop, offering a monthly salary of Rs 25,000. Ankamma and Prakash accepted the offer and took an advance of Rs 15,000 from Muthu, 60, the employer. They promised him that will repay the debt upon the receipt of their first month’s salary.

In December 2023, the couple moved to Sathyavedu. Upon arrival, they met Muthu and his wife and were informed that their actual job involved duck rearing—a practice adopted by small-scale farmers wherein ducks are taken to fields, ponds, and water bodies where they can forage for snails, insects, leftover grains after harvest in paddy fields and aquatic plants.

Those involved in duck rearing are expected to walk long hours in slushy water due to which they develop skin infections. There are also chances of being bitten by snakes and other venomous insects.

Although reluctant, Ankamma and Prakash were compelled to accept the work due to their debt obligation. Their daily routine included beginning work at 4-5 AM and continuing until 10–11 PM, during which they were responsible for managing hundreds of ducks owned by Muthu. They were not paid any wages while working.

In March 2024, following the death of her first husband, Ankamma and Prakash returned to their native village to perform the funeral rituals. Subsequently, the children, who had been residing with their father, came under the care of Ankamma.

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A week later, Muthu came to the native village and allegedly issued threats to Ankamma and her family. He then came in contact with one Sathish, who claimed to have extended a loan of Rs 25,000 to Ankamma’s first husband. Following discussions, Muthu agreed to settle the debt by paying Rs 25,000 to Sathish and subsequently took custody of the family. A note amounting to Rs 42,000 was executed by Muthu, comprising Rs 15,000 (initial advance to Ankamma), Rs 25,000 (paid to Sathish), and Rs 2,000 (car rental charges incurred by Muthu).

Ankamma, Prakash, and her three children returned to Sathyavedu with Muthu. The family was re-engaged in duck rearing, with all three children working alongside their mother and Prakash. Although Ankamma objected to her children being made to work, she was subjected to abuse and threats by Muthu, his wife, and their three sons.

After a month, Muthu informed the family that the duck-rearing unit would be moved to Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu. Observing deteriorating health conditions in her children, including foot infections from prolonged work in the field, and concerns about their disrupted education, Ankamma requested Muthu to allow them to return to their village. She assured him that she would repay the debt from future earnings elsewhere. Muthu agreed to let them go.

However, on the day of their departure, Muthu took Venkatesh to a nearby sweet shop. When Venkatesh failed to return, Ankamma contacted Muthu, who informed her that the child had been taken to Kanchipuram to work and would only be released upon full repayment of the debt. When the family resisted leaving without Venkatesh, they were reportedly physically assaulted and threatened by Muthu’s sons and forcibly sent back to their native place.

Since then, the family could communicate with Venkatesh only through Muthu’s mobile phone. On one occasion, Venkatesh disclosed that Muthu had physically assaulted him because some ducks had gone missing. Venkatesh reported that he was “doing fine”, though he indicated that he had to refrain from frequent communication as Muthu would scold him.

By mid-April 2025, Ankamma was unable to establish communication with her son. The last known conversation between the two occurred on April 9 during which Venkatesh requested his mother to arrange for the repayment and take him back home, expressing his inability to continue enduring the working conditions he was subjected to. By this time, it was approximately 10 months of Venkatesh being kept alone under the custody of Muthu.

Ankamma arranged the money and contacted Muthu, who provided conflicting and inconsistent responses in an apparent attempt to delay or obstruct the child’s release. He initially claimed that the boy was not with him when she called or had been sent to another location. Later, he stated that Venkatesh had been hospitalised, and subsequently alleged that the boy had run away after stealing money and a mobile phone.

He also allegedly subjected Ankamma to verbal abuse, including the use of caste-based derogatory language. He further escalated the situation by claiming that the original debt amount had increased to Rs 70,000 with interest added and demanded that she repay the entire amount to secure the release of her child.

Ankamma finally approached the police and leaders of her tribal community for help. She approached the local Superintendent of Police on May 19. An FIR was registered under multiple laws, including the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, Child Labour Act, Juvenile Justice Act, and SC/ST Atrocities Act. Later, murder charges were added.

Under interrogation, the farm owner finally revealed the boy had died and was secretly buried in Kanchipuram, near the owner’s relative’s house. He claimed Venkatesh fell sick with jaundice in April and died in hospital. Authorities later confirmed the hospital visit through CCTV footage, but could not ascertain the cause. Police arrested the owner, his wife, and his first son.

On May 21, the body was recovered. A government autopsy conducted on May 22 confirmed that the boy’s death was a result of grievous injuries to his head and shoulders—clear signs of a violent and targeted assault. The doctors concluded the attack was premeditated and stated: “This was not an accident. The child’s head and shoulders were broken due to merciless beating,” they said. The investigation is still ongoing, with police, local government officials, and forensic experts working together to gather conclusive evidence.

“The accused have been arrested and remanded to judicial custody. A request has been filed with the court to take the accused into police custody to further probe the circumstances leading to the child’s death. Forensic reports are awaited, and necessary legal sections have been added based on the medical opinion,” informed Harshvardhan Raju, Superintendent of Police (SP) Tirupati district, who led the investigation.

“They took my son’s life but not my voice. I will keep fighting so no other mother suffers like I did,” said Ankamma at a press conference.

Tragically, Ankamma’s story is not an isolated case. “The Yanadi community has historically faced social exclusion, poverty, and exploitation. Many have worked as bonded labourers or taken up precarious livelihoods like duck rearing, often under unsafe and exploitative conditions,” says Sunil Kumar, the Convenor of Vetti Vimochana Coalition—a network of NGOs, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Community Based Organisations (CBOs) established to make Andhra a bonded labour-free state. “Duck rearing is a common agricultural activity in many parts of Andhra. While it offers economic benefits, especially in rural economies, it carries significant health, environmental, and economic,” adds Kumar, who is helping Ankamma navigate through the bureaucratic maze.

As of the 2011 Census, the Yanadi population was recorded at approximately 537,808 individuals. They are predominantly concentrated in the Nellore, Chittoor, and Prakasam districts, with significant populations also in Kadapa, Krishna, and Visakhapatnam districts, informs Kumar.

The Yenadis live in extreme conditions of poverty and social exclusion. Their nomadic way of life makes it difficult for governments to capture their data and reach out to the community with help and support. The migration of families often leaves the children out of the education system.

Under the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976, practices such as offering advances, restricting freedom of movement, and preventing individuals from leaving work are criminal offences, yet, such violations persist unchecked.

“Estimates suggest that over 400 tribal families continue to live in conditions resembling bonded labour. In March this year, 33 individuals from seven Yanadi families were rescued in Prakasam district. There is also the case of an elderly Yanadi couple who was reportedly being subjected to bonded labour for nearly 15 years. It highlights the systemic exploitation faced by the community,” informs Kumar.

The couple revealed that they were forced to hunt for crabs and forest produce in mangrove forests in a village in Krishna without wages and were passed between middlemen like commodities. The two allege that they were “sold” multiple times—from one middleman to another middleman for Rs 40,000, then to another man for Rs 70,000, and finally for Rs 1.2 lakh.

The Yanadis are recognised as a Scheduled Tribe (ST) so they are entitled to benefits under various central and state government schemes. The local administration and the NGOs are providing alternative livelihood opportunities but these benefits often do not reach them.

While there have been some efforts by the government to improve their situation, more targeted and sustained interventions are necessary, especially in terms of compensation or rehabilitation.

When asked if Ankamma has received any assistance from the government, Kumar says: “The family has received a letter from the Tirupati collector concerning compensation. It is hoped that Ankamma will receive it shortly. Currently, the government has not initiated any actions pertaining to rehabilitation.”

After this case came to light, has the government taken any steps to help other families who could be trapped as bonded labourers? “Ankamma’s press conference had a significant impact. After that, awareness is being raised regarding the issue of bonded labour at the state level,” says Kumar.

Awareness campaigns have been conducted to reach out to the Yanadi community, informs the Tirupati SP. “The police, in coordination with Child Welfare and other government departments, are making efforts to identify individuals, particularly children, who may be in bonded labour and are working to ensure their release and rehabilitation,” he adds.

When asked how can we ensure that more people don’t get trapped in the vicious cycle of bonded labour, he said: “Steps are being taken to educate and empower the Yanadi community. The police have urged affected individuals to approach law enforcement directly for immediate help. Efforts are underway to bring such issues to the attention of the District Collector to ensure that eligible government welfare and rehabilitation schemes reach the vulnerable families, helping to break the cycle of exploitation.”