Lok Sabha Question No. 14 (STARRED), answered on 2017-07-17
Subject: Rehabilitation of Bonded Labourers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: PARBHUBHAI NAGARBHAI VASAVA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 14 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.07.2017

## REHABILITATION OF BONDED LABOURERS

## †*14. SHRI PARBHUBHAI NAGARBHAI VASAVA:

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

- (a)the  salient  features  of  the  Rehabilitation  of  Bonded  Labourers Scheme along with its present status;
- (b)  the  details  of  the  funds  sanctioned,  allocated  and  utilized  under this  scheme  during  the  last  three  years  and  the  current  year, State/UT-wise;
- (c)the number of bonded labourers rescued under the scheme during the said period, gender-wise and State/UT-wise; and
- (d)whether the Government proposes to increase the scope of the said scheme and if so, the details thereof along with the time by which it is likely to be materialised?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  *14  FOR  17.07.2017  BY  SHRI  PARBHUBHAI NAGARBHAI VASAVA REGARDING REHABILITATION OF BONDED LABOURERS.

- (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:
-  Allotment of house-site and agricultural land.
-  Land development.
-  Provision of low cost dwelling units.
-  Animal husbandry, dairy, poultry, piggery etc.
-  Wage employment, enforcement of minimum wages etc.
-  Collection and processing of minor forest products.
-  Supply  of  essential  commodities  under  targeted  public  distribution system.
-  Education for children.

(b) & (c): Under the Centrally Sponsored Plan Scheme for Rehabilitation of Bonded  Labour  which  is  in  operation  since  May,  1978,  the  State/UT-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 | --            | --                                                   | --                     |

Gender-wise  details  of  bonded  labourers  rescued  and  released  are  not centrally  maintained.  In  addition,  during  2014-15,  an  amount  of  Rs.  10.00 Lakhs  was  released  to  the  State  Government  of  Gujarat  for  conducting Awareness generation activities.

(d):  No, Madam.

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