Lok Sabha Question No. 3853 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-19
Subject: Bonded Labour
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: UDAY PRATAP SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3853 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.03.2018

## BONDED LABOUR

†3853. SHRI UDAY PRATAP SINGH:

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

- (a)the details of the schemes being implemented for identification , rescue
- and rehabilitation of bonded labourers in the country, State/UT-wise;
- (b)the details of the amount of funds allocated and spent for the implementation of the said schemes during the last three years, State/UTwise;
- (c)whether the Government is considering to formulate any new scheme and
- has also received any proposals in this regard; and
- (d)if so, the details thereof and the time by which such scheme is likely to be formulated?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

- (a): In order to assist the State Governments in the task of identification, rescue and rehabilitation  of  freed  bonded  labourers,  a  Centrally  Sponsored Plan Scheme for Rehabilitation of Bonded Labour is in operation since May, 1978 with revisions from time to time.  The Government last revamped the Centrally  Sponsored  Plan  Scheme  for  Rehabilitation  of  Bonded  Labourers with  effect  from  17 th   May,  2016.    The  revamped  scheme  is  known  as  the 'Central Sector Scheme for Rehabilitation of Bonded Labourers, 2016'.

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 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 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.
6. (b): The  State/  UT-wise  details  of  funds  released  during  the  last  three years and the current year under the Scheme are as under:

| Year        | State          |   Amount (Rs. in lakh) |
|-------------|----------------|------------------------|
| 2014-15     | Chhattisgarh   |                  85.3  |
|             | Gujarat        |                  10    |
| 2015-16     | Uttar Pradesh  |                 221.6  |
| 2016-17     | Bihar          |                 179.2  |
|             | Jharkhand      |                  11.8  |
|             | Odisha         |                  25.8  |
|             | Uttar Pradesh  |                  25.8  |
|             | Karnataka      |                  18.1  |
| 2017-18     | Bihar          |                  54.5  |
| (till date) | Karnataka      |                 150    |
|             | Uttar Pradesh  |                 358.1  |
|             | Rajasthan      |                  97.65 |
|             | Madhya Pradesh |                  25.9  |
|             | Chhattisgarh   |                  11.4  |
|             | Odisha         |                  74.2  |

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