Lok Sabha Question No. 259 (STARRED), answered on 2017-03-20
Subject: Bonded Labour Rehabilitation Fund
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: RAJESH RANJAN  (PAPPU  YADAV), NINONG ERING

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 259

TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.03.2017

## BONDED LABOUR REHABILITATION FUND

*259. SHRI RAJESH RANJAN: SHRI NINONG ERING:

Will  the  Minister  of  LABOUR  AND  EMPLOYMENT  be  pleased  to state:

- (a)the salient features of the Central Sector Scheme for Rehabilitation of Bonded Labourers, 2016;
- (b)the total contribution received under the Bonded Labour Rehabilitation Fund since the inception of the said scheme, State/UT-wise;
- (c)whether the Central Monitoring Committee has prepared/submitted a  report  regarding  the  contribution  to  the  said  fund  and  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (d)whether all  State  Governments  have  formed  vigilance committees as mandated under the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976; and
- (e)if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor along with the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)

(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (e) of LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *259 FOR 20.03.2017 BY SHRI RAJESH RANJAN AND SHRI NINONG ERING REGARDING BONDED LABOUR REHABILITATION FUND.

- (a) The salient features of the 'Central Sector Scheme for Rehabilitation of Bonded Labourer, 2016' are as under:
- (1) Financial assistance for rehabilitation of a rescued bonded labourer has been increased from Rs. 20,000/- to one lakh per adult male beneficiary, Rs. 2 lakh for special category beneficiaries  such  as  children  including  orphans  or  those rescued  from  organized  &  forced  begging  rings  or  other forms of forced child labour, and women and Rs. 3 lakh in cases of bonded or forced labour involving extreme cases of deprivation or marginalization such as trans-genders, or woman or children rescued from ostensible sexual exploitation such as brothels, massage parlours, placement agencies etc., or trafficking, or in cases of differently abled persons,  or  in  situations  where  the  District  Magistrate deems fit.
- (2) The State Governments  are not required to pay any matching contribution for the purpose of cash rehabilitation assistance.

of

- (3) The Scheme provides for financial assistance Rs.  4.50  lakh  per  district  to  the  States  for  conducting survey of bonded labourers and Rs. 1.00 Lakh for evaluatory studies.
- (4) The Scheme provides for financial assistance upto Rs. 10 Lakhs per State per annum for awareness generation.
- (5) The  release  of  rehabilitation  assistance  has  been  linked with conviction of the accused.   In cases where the trial has not been concluded, but the District Administration has arrived at a prima facie finding and proof of bondage, then the  proposal  for  cash  assistance  shall  not  be  stopped  for want of details of conviction. However, final disbursement of case assistance and non-cash assistance shall be made upon proof of bondage and other legal consequences as per judicial process.
- (6) The  Scheme  provides  for  creation  of  a  Bonded  Labour Rehabilitation  Fund  at  District  level  by  each  State  with  a permanent corpus of at least Rs. 10 lakh at the disposal of the District Magistrate for extending immediate help to the released bonded labourers.
- (7) Fund is released by the Ministry under the Scheme to the District  National  Child  Labour  Project  Society  and  the District  Project  Society  in  turn  releases  the  fund  to  the implementing agencies including the district administration.
- (8) The benefits prescribed above shall be, in addition to, other cash  or  non-cash  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.  Further,  the  above benefits are in addition to other land and housing elements etc. as mentioned below:
7.  Allotment of house-site and agricultural land.
8.  Land development.
9.  Provision of low cost dwelling units.
10.  Animal husbandry, dairy, poultry, piggery etc.
11.  Wage employment, enforcement of minimum wages etc.
12.  Collection and processing of minor forest products.
13.  Supply of essential commodities under targeted public distribution system.
14.  Education for children.

(b): As  mentioned  above,  under  the  revised  Scheme  the  State Governments are not required to pay  any matching contribution for the purpose of cash rehabilitation assistance. The Scheme came into effect in F.Y 2016-17 and the allocation during the year F.Y.2016-17 is Rs. 3.00 Crore.

(c): No, Madam.

(d) & (e): Under  Section  13  of  the  Bonded  Labour  System  (Abolition) Act,  1976,  every  State  Government  is  under  mandatory  obligation  to constitute Vigilance Committees in each district and each Sub-Division as it  may think fit. The information on the number of Vigilance Committees constituted by the State Governments is not centrally maintained.

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