Lok Sabha Question No. 190 (STARRED), answered on 2019-12-02
Subject: Bonded Labour
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Chandra Sekhar Sahu, Pritam Gopinath Munde

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. *190

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.12.2019

## BONDED LABOUR

*190. SHRI CHANDRA SEKHAR SAHU: DR. PRITAM GOPINATHRAO MUNDE:

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

- (a)whether  it  is  true  that  bonded  labour  cases  in  the  country  have
- been increasing day by day;
- (b)if so, the response of the Government thereto;
- (c) whether it is a fact that serious attention is required to eliminate bonded labour;
- (d)if  so,  whether  the  Government's  efforts  for  eliminating  bonded labour  are  facing  many  challenges  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof; and
- (e)whether  the  Government  has  reviewed  the  implementation  of  the Centrally-funded  bonded  labour  rehabilitation  scheme  in  some States, if so, the details and the outcome thereof?

## ANSWER

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

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

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## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NUMBER 190 FOR 02.12.19 BY SHRI CHANDRA SEKHAR SAHU & DR. PRITAM GOPINATHRAO MUNDE REGARDING BONDED LABOUR.

- (a): No, Sir.
- (b): Does not arise

(c): The Government of India is fully committed to complete eradication of bonded labour and identify, rescue, release and rehabilitate them. The Bonded Laobur System has been abolished by Law throughout the country by an Ordinance with effect from 24.10.1975 and this Law was replaced by the Bonded Laobur System (Abolition) Act, 1976.  The  Act  provides  for  the  abolition  of  Bonded  Laobur  System  with  a  view  to prevent the economic and physical exploitation of the weaker sections of the people. Under  the  Bonded  Labour  System  (Abolition)  Act,  1976  identification,  release  and rehabilitation  of  freed  bonded  labour  is  the  direct  responsibility  of  the  concerned States/Union Territories.

(d): Government's efforts for eliminating bonded labour are facing some challenges which is mainly attributed to general social bias, absenteeism of bonded labourers as witness due to their migratory nature and delay in trial of the bonded labour cases.

(e): In order to assist the State Governments in the task of rehabilitation of identified and released bonded labour, Central Plan Scheme was started in 1978 and the Scheme has been revised from time to time.  The Scheme was last modified in May, 2016. A revised  Central  Sector  Scheme  for  Rehabilitation  of  Bonded  Labourer-2016  is  in operation since 17.05.2016.  As per the new Scheme, the Central Government bears 100% expenditure and the  State Governments are not required to pay any matching contribution  for  the  purpose  of  cash  rehabilitation  assistance,  evaluatory  studies, surveys  and  awareness  campaigns  against  bonded  labour.  Under  the  Scheme,  a bonded labour rehabilitation fund  is  created at  the  District  level  by  each  State  with  a permanent corpus of at least Rs.10 Lakh at the disposal of the District Magistrate. This fund is  utilized  for  extending  immediate financial  help  to  the  released  bonded  labour. Immediate financial assistance up to Rs.20,000/- per bonded labour is provided by the concerned District Magistrate from the corpus fund. This amount is fully reimbursed by the Central Government to the State Government. Further, under the Scheme financial

assistance to the tune of Rs. 1.00 lakh, Rs. 2.00 lakh and Rs. 3.00 lakh are provided to released bonded labourers based on their category and level of exploitation as against an  amount  of  Rs.20,000/-  only  in  the  earlier  scheme.  In  addition  to  the  financial assistance, the beneficiaries are also entitled for the following non-cash assistance from the respective State Governments:

1. Allotment of House/site & agricultural land.
2. Land development
3. Provision of low cost dwelling Units.
4. Animal husbandry, dairy, poultry, piggery etc.
5. Wage employment, enforcement of minimum wages etc.
6. Collection and processing of minor forest products.
7. Supply of essential commodities under targeted public distribution system.
8. Education for children.
9. Any other Welfare Scheme of State/Central Govt.

As and when existence of bonded labour is detected, such persons are rescued, released  and  rehabilitated  by  District  Administration.  The  total  number  of  bonded labour identified and released is 3, 13,687 till date.

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