*F. No. S-11012/01/2019-Bl
Government of India
Ministry of labour & Employment*****
Jaisalmer House, 26 Mansingh Road,New Delhi, dated ~'KFebruary, 2022
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject Central Sector Scheme for Rehabilitation of Bonded Labourer-2021 .
The undersigned is directed to convey the approval of the Competent Authority for
implementation of Central Sector Scheme for Rehabilitation of Bonded Labourer-2021 by theState Governments/UT Administrations through their District Magistrates/Collectors/SubDivisional Magistrates. The Central Sector Scheme for Rehabilitation of Bonded labourer
2016 was last revised in May, 2016. With approval of the Competent Authority, certain
modifications had also been made in the Scheme on 23.06.2017. For the purpose oferadication of Bonded Labour System more proficiently, an evaluation of the performance of the
Scheme has been undertaken by the Ministry. On the basis of evaluation of the Scheme andconsultations with Stakeholders, a draft scheme was prepared by the Ministry of Labour &Employment and circulated to all State/UT Governments, NHR:C, and various concerned
Ministries of Government. Based on the suggestions and inputs received from all quarters
Including Niti Ayog and other concerned Social Partners, the ~ompetent authority has approved
the revamped Scheme for the financial year 2021-22 to 2025-26. The revamped scheme will be
implemented w.e.f. 27.01 .2022. Copy of the revamped Scheme is enclosed at Annexure.
2.
The revamped Scheme shall henceforth be known as Central Sector Scheme for
Rehabilitation of Bonded Labourer- 2021 .
Encl: As above.

"'~~.t(M.Arun Rasith)
Deputy DirectorTo

2.

The Chief Secretary/Additional Chief Secretary {Labour)/ Principal Secretary(Labour)/Secretary (Labour)/ Labour Commissioners of all State Governments/
Union Territory
District Magistrate/Collector (All Districts)

Copy to:
1. Secretary, Department of Expenditure
2. Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment,
3. Secretary, Ministry of Women & Child Development,
4. Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs,
5. Secretary General, National Human Rights Commission
6. AS&FA Ministry of Labour & Employment
7. Senior PPS to all the Bureau Heads, Ministry of Labour & Employment
8. All Sections, Ministry of Labour & Employment
9. NIC, Ministry of Labour and Employment for uploading the scheme on the website of the
Ministry.

Annexure
Central Sector Scheme for Rehabilitation of Bonded Labourer - 2021
1.
i.

ii.

iii.

iv.

v.

vi.

vii.

viii.

REVISED SCHEME AND GUIDELINES
The revised Scheme shall be a Central Sector Scheme and shall come into effectfrom 27.01.2022. The State Governments shall not be required to pay any
matching contribution for the purpose of cash rehabilitation assistance.
The rehabilitation assistance shall be Rs. One lakh per adult male beneficiary.
Beneficiary shall have the option to either deposit it in an annuity scheme orreceive cash grant. The District Administration will assess the cash requirementof the beneficiary and exercise its best judgement in the matter and put themoney under annuity scheme with the consent of the said adult male.
For special category beneficiaries such as children including orphans or those
rescued from organized and forced begging rings or other forms of forced childlabour, and women, the amount of rehabilitation assistance shall be Rs. Twolakhs out of which at least Rs. 1.25 lakh (Rs. One Lakh Twenty Five Thousand)shall be deposited in an annuity scheme in the name of each beneficiary and thebalance amount shall be transferred to the beneficiary account through Direct
Benefit Transfer (DBT).
In cases of bonded or forced labour involving extreme cases of deprivation or
marginalization such as trans-genders, or women or children rescued fromostensible sexual exploitation such as brothels, massage parlours, placement
agencies etc.. or trafficking, or in cases of differently abled persons, or insituations where the District Magistrate deems fit, the rehabilitation assistanceshall be Rs. Three lakhs, out of which at least Rs. Two lakhs shall be depositedin an annuity scheme in the name of each beneficiary and Rs. One lakh shall betransferred to the beneficiary account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
In cases where, on the conclusion of the summary trial, the District
Magistrate(DM)/Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) concludes that the allegedbonded labourer is, in fact, not in a condition of bondage, but requires socioeconomic assistance, the DM/SDM, may provide state assistance under any
other scheme administered by them.
In cases where, the DM/SDM find that immediate assistance is necessary forcare and protection of the rescued persons during the pendency of the summary
trial, such assistance including fooding, lodging, medical assistance. legal aid,
provisions for victim's or witness' protection, etc., shall be provided under any
other law or scheme forthwith, notwithstanding the entitlements prescribed under
this scheme.
A Bonded Labour Rehabilitation Fund shall be created at the District level by
each State with a permanent corpus of at least Rs. Ten lakhs at the disposal of
the District Magistrate which would be renewable. This fund will be utilised forextending immediate financial assistance to the released bonded labourers. The
entire penalties recovered from the perpetrators of the bonded labour uponconviction, may be deposited in the corpus.
Immediate financial assistance upto Rs. 30,000/- (Rs. Thirty Thousand) shall be
provided by the District Administration to the rescued person out of the District
Bonded Labour Rehabilitation Fund at the disposal of the District Magistrate.
Where the DM is satisfied that a particular rescued person requires more thanRs.30,000/- (Rs. Thirty Thousand) he/she may disburse such higher amount as
deemed fit, but limited to the maximum entitlement prescribed under this

ix.

a.

b.

c.

d.

x.

scheme. Any such advance amount shall be deducted from the Central
rehabilitation assistance amount.
State Governments/UTs shall be required to concentrate their efforts on thefollowing activities:
The District Administration in a convergence approach shall undertake measuresfor providing safe and secure environment for the capacity building of childbonded labourers in coordination with all relevant Government departments.
Accordingly, facilities for, ensuring their proper education, psycho social
counseling, short stay home till education upto class 12th, skill development shallbe an integral component of the rehabilitation package.
For addressing the special needs of female freed bonded labourers, State
Government shall also provide financial and other assistance for marriage, apartfrom other capacity building measures mentioned at sub para (a).
For addressing the needs of the disabled persons, special care should be madeavailable by the State as per national policy for disabled people apart from othercapacity building measures mentioned at sub para (a) and (b).
For adult bonded labour who do not come under any of the above categories,
employable skill development training shall be a compulsory element of
rehabilitation.
The benefits prescribed hereinbefore shall be, in addition to, other cash or noncash benefits which a beneficiary under this scheme is entitled to. by or under
any other scheme or law applicable for the time being in force.

xi.
A State/UT Government may conduct survey of bonded labourers once in every
three years per sensitive district and the amount of assistance for survey shall be Rs.
4.50 lakh (Rs. Four Lakh Fifty Thousand) per district. This amount may be utilised tofinance the NGO efforts for identification of bonded labour as per State/UT
Government norms. The Central Government will give 50% of amount required for
conducting survey in advance and will reimburse the remaining amount uponsatisfactory performance in each identified project. The component of assistance shallbe as per the following table:S.No.

Cost involved in survey

1.

Cost of printing of questionnaire (average 2000
questionnaires@ Rs. 5 each)
Costing of imparting training to investigators/field staff forcollecting information (payment to 10 investigator/field
staff @ Rs. 500/- per day to each for 5 days (Rs. 5000 x 5)
Cost of collecting primary data from field (payment to 10
investigators/field staff @ Rs. 500/- per day to each for 2
months (Rs. 5000 x 60 days)
Cost of editing, tabulation and analysis of primary data
(payment to 2 Research Assistant @ Rs. 20,000/- permonth to each for 2 months (Rs. 40,000 x 2 months)
Cost of computerization of data/information
Total

2.

3.

4.

5.

Funds
Permissible
Rs. 10,000
Rs. 25,000

Rs. 3,00,000

Rs. 80,000

Rs. 35,000

Rs. 4,50,000(xii)
A State/UT may conduct awareness generation program for eradication ofbonded labourer and the amount of assistance for awareness generation shall bereimbursed on case to case basis subject to maximum limit of Rs. Ten lakh perState/UT per annum. The Central Government will give 50% of amount required for
conducting awareness generation in advance and will reimburse the remaining amountupon satisfactory performance of the awareness generation program, as per thefollowing components:S.No.
1.

2.
3.

Funds
Permissible
Cost of campaigning and telecast of various audio visual Rs. 71akh
inputs through AIR, Doordarshan, Song and Drama Division,
Social Media Platform etc.
Rs. 1 lakh
Campaigns through local newspapers
Rs. 21akh
Cost of performance by folk cultural troups including cost of
travelling
Total
Rs.101akh
Cost components(xiii) A State/UT may conduct up-to five evaluatory studies per year for eradication ofbonded labourer and the amount of assistance for each evaluatory study shall be Rs.
1.5 lakh (One Lakh Fifty Thousand). The Central Government will give 50% of amountrequired for conducting evaluatory study in advance and will reimburse the remaining
amount upon satisfactory performance as per the following components:

S.No.
Cost involved in survey
1 Formulation and printing of questionnaire for collecting
information from various Departments & who are providing
grants/loans for the purpose of effective rehabilitation ofbonded labourers including cost of mailing of questionnaire
2. Analysis of data by 2 Research Assistants-cum-computer
operators (payment @ Rs. 15,000/- per month for 2
months)(30,000 X 2 months)
3. Writing of reports by 1 Research Officer (payment @ Rs.
30,000/- per month for 2 months) (30,000 x 2 months)
4 . Pr_illJing and binding of the report (20 original copies)
5. Misc. expenses including travelling expenses
Total
2.

Funds Permissible
Rs. 10,000

Rs. 60,000

Rs. 60,000
Rs. 10,000
Rs. 10,000
Rs. 1 ,50!000

SUBMISSION OF PROPOSAL TO THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENTThe District Magistrate/Administration will send the proposal for the financial
demand to the State's concerned Ministry/Department dealing with the Bonded
Labour Rehabilitation Scheme. Upon receipt of proposal the concerned State
Ministry/Department will scrutinize all documents and submit proposal to the Central
Government i.e. Ministry of Labour and Employment.
2.2
Each proposal for the immediate cash assistance and rehabilitation assistancewill be sent by the State/UT Government with the following details:(i) For the immediate financial Assistance (i.e. upto Rs. 30,000/-) duly filled release
Certificate of each rescued bonded labour (Annexure -A).

(ii) For Rehabilitation Assistance (i.e. Rs. One lakh, Two lakhs, Three lakhs as the casemay be):a. Duly filled Release Certificate of the each rescued Bonded Labour (Annexure-A).
b. Details of each rescued Bonded Labour in prescribed proforma as per
Annexure -B.
c. Consolidated details of bonded labourer(s) for release of Rehabilitation
Assistance (Annexure-C).

2.3 (a) For release of Central Assistance for conducting survey of bonded labourers
proposal will be sent by the State/UT Government in the prescribed proforma as per
Annexure - D.
(b) For release of Central Assistance for awareness generation program proposal will
be sent by the State/UT Government in the prescribed proforma as per Annexure - E.
(c) For release of Central Assistance for evaluatory studies the proposal will be sent by
the State/UT Government in the prescribed proforma as per Annexure - F.

2.4

In cases where the Summary Trial under Sec 21 of the Act has not beenconcluded as per Rules, but the OM/SDM has arrived at a prima facie finding and proofof bondage, then the proposal for cash assistance shall not be stopped for want ofdetails of conviction. However, final disbursement of cash assistance shall be madeupon proof of bondage and other legal consequences as per judicial process.

3.

Release of Funds

3.1 As per modalities of release of funds approved by the Ministry of Finance,
admissible reimbursement under the revised scheme, fund will be released by the
Ministry of Labour and Employment directly to the State/UT Government. The fund will betransferred by the State/UT Government to the concerned District Magistrate/Collector
for the purpose of the Bonded Labourer Rehabilitation Scheme.

4.

Monitoring

4.1 The monitoring of the BLR scheme shall be carried out by the Central
Monitoring Committee, prescribed under the NCLP scheme, but with JS/DG (LW) as
member-convenor for the purpose of BLR Scheme.
4,2 At the State level, the monitoring machinery for National Child Labour Project(NCLP) Scheme shall also be responsible for monitoring of the revised BLR Scheme.

Annexure -A
Central Sector Scheme for Rehabilitation of Bonded Labourer- 2021

Proforma for Release Certificate

BLCase NO . .............. .

(Order of the JMFC/JMSC under Section 1 2 of the Bonded Labour System (Abolition)
Act, 1976)
A Colour passport
size signed
photograph of thebonded labour
released should bepasted in this box

Name
Caste Category(SC/ST/OBC)
Father/Mother's Name
Ages. Male/Female/trans·gender
6. Address of Bonded Labour
7. Aadhaar Card No. of Bonded Labour(if available)s. Contact details of Bonded Labour(Mobile No., if available)
9. Address where bonded labour
is Identified/rescued
10. Name of the Captor/Bonder
11. Aadhaar Card no. of Captor/Bonder
12. Address of Captor/Bonder

1.
2.
3.
4.

.-

·-

Given under my hand and seal on date _ _ _ _ _ _ __Signature
Name of the District Magistrate/Officer
authorized by District Authority
DistrictState:
SealAnnexure-B
Central Sector Scheme for Rehabilitation of Bonded Labourer -2021
Details of Bonded Labour for Release of Rehabilitation AssistanceI.

IDENTIFICATION PARTICULARS
a. Nameb. Father/Mother/Husband Namec. Genderd. Caste Category(SC/ ST/ OBC)
e. Qualification
f. Whether physically disabledg. Address
h. Aadhaar card Number
i. Contract details(Mobile No., if available)
j. Whether special/other category(as specified at para 1 (iii) and 1 (iv) of this Scheme)IS.

PARTICULARS OF FAMILY MEMBERS:

S.No.

Name

Relation to
Respondent

Age

GenderQualification Occupation Remarks

1

2
Ill.

PARTICULARS OF PRESENT OCCUPATION (After rescued)a. Occupationb. Duration of the Occupation (month/Year)c. Wages (per day/week/month)IV.

PARTICULARS OF ASSESTS [of the Bonded Labour]c. Land owned
d. Milch animals/bullocks/sheep/goat/poultry
e. Does he/she live in own House or rented:-

V. Quantum of punishment to the convict/accused
VI. The details of assistance provided by
State Government/UT (Cash/Kind)
VERIFICATION

It is certified that the facts stated in the above questionnaire are true to theinformation provided by the rescued labourer which has been read over and explained tohim in his mother tongue.
Date:Piace:Signature
Name of the District Magistrate/
Officer authorized by District Authority
District:State:SealAnnexure·C
Central Sector Scheme for Rehabilitation of Bonded Labourer-2021
Consolidated details of Bonded Labo ur(s ) for Release o f Rehabilitation Assistance1.

Number of the labourers required to be rehabilitated:(Release cerlificate to be attached for evety rescued labour)

II.

Category wise break·up:-

S.No
1.

Gender
Male

2.

Total
Female3.

NumberSpecial Category!AdultMinor!AdultMinor

Total
Special/Other
Male
Category as specified in para 5
Female(iii) and 5(iv)Minor Boy(s)/Girls
Person with disability "Trans-gender
Total*"Person with disability" means a person sufferinq from not less than forty per cent of any
disability as certified by a medical authority, medical authority is Hospital funded by Central orState Government. The medical certificate issued by medical authoritv should be provided withthe proposal.

Ill.

Total amount of Central Assistance Required:

S.No

Category

1~dult Male member

2

Adult Female/Minor boys
and Girls
Special/Other category as
specified at para 5(iii) and4(iv} of this Scheme
Total

3

IV.
S.No.

1
2
3, 4 ...
Total

Total
Number

Prescribed limit as
per the bonded
labour scheme(Rs.in Lakh)
One

Total
AmountTwo
Three

Name of the District (s) where these bonded labourers (category wise) have been
identified:Name of theDistrict(s)Name of the State

Number of bonded Labour
Identified

Released

Rehabilitated,(Continued .....)
V. Whether any utilization certificate for Central Assistance released in the preceding
years are pending:- Yes/No
If yes indicate the details of pending utilization certificates:
Name of the State/UT
Sl. No. Component Name of Year in which Amount of Amountfor Reasons forof Central theFunds
Centralwhich
nonAssistance District Released
Assistance Utilization
submission of
(s)
(Rs.)
receivedcertificates is utilization
submitted
certificates(Rs.)
12, 3...
Total

Signature
Name of the District Magistrate/
Officer authorized by District Authority
DistrictState:
SealAnnexure-D
Central Sector Scheme for Rehabilitation of Bonded Labourer - 2021 Proforma for
Release of Central Assistance for Conducting Survey of Bonded Labourers
Name of District (s) where survey will be conducted
Duration of Survey with timelines for its completion
Whether any survey was conducted in the past, in the district(s) :a. If yes indicate year and month of the survey
b. If no, the reasons.iv.
Name of the agency(ies) which conducted survey in the pastv. Name of the agency(ies) which will be conducting surveyvi.
Item wise breakup of the cost of the proposed survey per sensitive district
i.
ii.
iii.

S.No.
Item
1. Cost of printing of questionnaire (average 2000
questionnaires @ Rs. 5 each = Rs. 10,000)
2. Costing of imparting training to investigators/field staff
for collecting information (payment to 10 investigator/
field staff @ Rs. 500/- per day to each for 5 days (Rs.
5000 X 5 = Rs. 25000)
3. Cost of collecting primary data from filed (payment to
10 investigators/filed staff @ Rs. 500/- per day to eachfor 2 months (Rs. 5000 x 60 days= Rs. 3,00,000)
4 . Cost of editing, tabulation and analysis of primary data
(payment to 2 Research Assistant @ Rs. 20,000/- permonth to each for 2 months (Rs. 40,000 x 2 months =Rs. 80,000)
5. Cost of computerization of data/information (Rs.
35,000)

Cost involved

Total

Whether previous survey, if conducted any, have been done within
one year of releasing Central assistance: (Y/N)
viii.
If yes, then details of findings, recommendations to be provided
ix.
Whether reports of the survey conducted in the past have been sent to Ministryof Labour & Employment, Government of India
a. If yes, details thereof
b. If no, reasons thereofx.
Whether any utilization certificate for Central Assistance released in thepreceding years are pending:- Yes/No.
a. If yes indicate the details of pending utilization certificates :vii.

Annexure-E
Central Sector Scheme for Rehabilitation of Bonded Labourer • 2021
Proforma for Release of Central Assistance for Awareness Generation Program:i. List of activities proposed to be undertaken for awareness generation program:ii.Name of the agencies which will undertake awareness generation activities. Whether it
is Government or Private:iii. Item-wise break-up of the cost involving in awareness generation activities.
S.No.

1.

2.

3.

iv.

v.

Item
Cost involved
Cost of campaigning and telecast of various audio
visual inputs through AIR. Doordarshan. Song andDrama Division, etc.(max. fund permissible is Rs. 7
Lakh)
Campaigns through local newspapers (max. fundpermissible is Rs. 1 Lakh)
Cost of performance by folk cultural troupes
including cost of travelling (max. fund permissible isRs. 2 lakh)
Total

Whether awareness generation activities have been done within 6 months of releasing
Central assistance in preceding years. (YIN).

Whether reports of the awareness generation activities conducted in the past
have been sent to Ministry or Labour & Employment, Government of India: (Y/N)
a. If yes, details thereof
b. If no, reasons thereof
vi. Whether any utilization certificate for Central Assistance released in the preceding
years are pending:- (YIN)(a) If yes indicate the details of pending utilization certificates:

Annexure-F
Central Sector Scheme for Rehabilitation of Bonded Labourer - 2021
Proforma for Release of Central Assistance for Evaluatory Studies:
1. List of activities proposed to be undertaken for Evaluatory Studies;
2. Name of the agencies which will undertake the evaluation. Whether it is Government
or Private:
3. Item-wise break-up of the cost involving in evaluatory studies:
S.N

Item

Cost
involved

0.

1.

2.

3.

4.
r-5.

Formulation and printing of questionnaire for collecting
information from various Departments & who are providing grants/
loans for the purpose of effective
rehabilitation of bonded labourers including cost of mailing ofquestionnaire (Rs.10,000)
Analysis of data by 2 Research Assistants-cum- Computer
operator (payment@ Rs.15,000/- per month for 2 months)(30,000 x 2 months= Rs.60 000)
Writing of reports by one Research Officer (payment @Rs. 30,000/- per month for 2 months)(30,000 x 2 months= Rs.60,000)
Printing and binding of the report (20 original copies)(Rs.10,000)
Misc. expenses
Total

including

travelling

expenses (Rs 10,000)