Lok Sabha Question No. 3015 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-08-06
Subject: Impact of MGNREG on Bonded Labourers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: POONAM  MAHAJAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3015 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.08.2018

## IMPACT OF MGNREG ON BONDED LABOURERS

## 3015. SHRIMATI POONAM MAHAJAN:

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

- (a)whether  the  Government  has  ascertained  the  impact  of  the  Mahatma Gandhi  National  Rural  Employment  Guarantee  (MGNREG)  Scheme  on  the release and rehabilitation of the bonded labourers;
- (b)if so, the details and the findings thereof;
- (c)whether  the  objectives  of  the  MGNREG  Scheme  have  been  aligned  with the objectives of the Rehabilitation of Bonded Labourers Scheme and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d)the number of bonded labourers who availed the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural  Employment Guarantee Scheme during each of the last five years, State/UT-wise?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

- (a) & (b): No such impact study has been done by the Government.
- (c) & (d): These are entirely two different Schemes formulated to achieve different objectives. MGNREG Scheme provides for enhancing the livelihood security  in  rural  areas  by  providing  at  least  100  days  of  guaranteed  wage employment  in  a  financial  year,  to  every  household  whose  adult  members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. Whereas, the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976, provides for abolition of Bonded Labour System with a view  to  preventing  the  economic  and  physical  exploitation  of  the  weaker sections. The Bonded Labour System is a dynamic problem as it can occur and re-occur at any point of time in an industry and occupation. The Bonded Labour Rehabilitation Scheme has been formulated to achieve the objectives and implementation of the provisions of the Bonded  Labour System (Abolition)  Act,  1976.  The  Scheme  provides  for  financial  assistance  to  the States in their task of implementing the provisions of the said Act including rehabilitation of released bonded labourers.

The  Government  has  revamped  the  Centrally  Sponsored  Plan  Scheme for Rehabilitation of Bonded Labourers with effect from 17th May, 2016.  The salient  features  of  the  'Central  Sector  Scheme  for  the  Rehabilitation  of

Bonded Labourer, 2016' are as under:

- (1) Financial  assistance  is  provided  for  rehabilitation  of  a  rescued bonded  labourer  at  the  rate  of  rupees  one  lakh  for  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 women 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  financial  assistance  for  rehabilitation  is  100%  funded  by  the Central Government.
- (3) The Scheme also provides for financial assistance of Rs. 4.50 lakh per district to the States for conducting survey of bonded labourers, Rs. 1.00 Lakh for evaluatory studies and Rs.  10 Lakhs per State per annum for awareness generation. Central Government will give 50% of the amount required for conducting Survey, Awareness Generation and Evaluatory Studies in advance. A State may conduct survey once in every three years per sensitive district. A State may conduct five Evaluatory Studies per year.
- (4) The  release  of rehabilitation  assistance  has  been  linked  with conviction of the accused. However, immediate assistance upto Rs. 20,000/-  may  be  provided  to  the  rescued  bonded  labour  by  the District  Administration  irrespective of the status of  conviction proceedings.
- (5) 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.
- (6) 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 including MGNREG Scheme or law applicable for the time being in force.

The  number  of  bonded  labourers  who  may  have  availed  the  Mahatma Gandhi  National  Rural  Employment  Guarantee  Scheme  is  not  centrally maintained.

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