Lok Sabha Question No. 18 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-17
Subject: Bonded Labour
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Richard Hay

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 18

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.07.2017

## BONDED LABOUR

## 18. PROF. RICHARD HAY:

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

- (a)the  salient  features  of  the  Bonded  Labour  Rehabilitation  Scheme along with its present status;
- (b)the details of the funds sanctioned, allocated and utilised under this Scheme during the last three years and the current year;
- (c)the number of bonded labour rescued under the Scheme during the last three years and the current year; and
- (d)whether the achievement regarding rescued bonded labour is upto the fixed target, if not, the reasons therefor and the action taken by
- the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): The salient features of the 'Central Sector Scheme for 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  amount  for  rehabilitation  is  100%  funded  by  the  Central Government on a reimbursement basis.
- (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  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:-
6. 
7. 
8. 
9. 
10. 
11. 
12. Allotment of house-site and agricultural land.
13. Land development.
14. Provision of low cost dwelling units.
15. Animal husbandry, dairy, poultry, piggery etc.
16. Wage employment, enforcement of minimum wages etc.
17. Collection and processing of minor forest products.
18.  Supply of essential commodities under targeted public distribution system.
19. 
20. Education for children.

(b) & (c):   Under the Centrally Sponsored Plan Scheme for Rehabilitation of Bonded Labour which was in operation since May, 1978,  the  State-wise  details  of  Central  share  released  towards Rehabilitation  of  Bonded  Labour  and  number  of  bonded  labour released and rehabilitated during the last three years and the current year is as under:

| Year    | State         | Number of bonded labour released and rehabilitated   | Amount (Rs. in lakh)   |
|---------|---------------|------------------------------------------------------|------------------------|
| 2014-15 | Chhattisgarh  | 853                                                  | 85.30                  |
| 2015-16 | Uttar Pradesh | 2216                                                 | 221.60                 |
| 2016-17 | Bihar         | 1792                                                 | 179.20                 |
|         | Jharkhand     | 118                                                  | 11.80                  |
|         | Odisha        | 258                                                  | 25.80                  |
|         | Uttar Pradesh | 258                                                  | 25.80                  |
|         | Karnataka     | 181                                                  | 18.1                   |
| 2017-18 | --            | --                                                   | --                     |

In addition, during 2014-15, an amount of Rs. 10.00 Lakhs had been released to the State Government of Gujarat for conducting Awareness generation activities.

(d): No target has been fixed in this regard.

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