Lok Sabha Question No. 1238 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-11
Subject: Bonded Labourers in Backward and Rural Areas
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: PRATAPRAO GANPATRAO JADHAV

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1238 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.02.2019

## BONDED LABOURERS IN BACKWARD AND RURAL AREAS

†1238. SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV:

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

- (a)the  estimated  number  of  bonded  labourers  in  backward  and  rural areas of the country as on date, State/UT-wise;
- (b)whether  any  plan  has  been  formulated/proposed  to  be  formulated
- for their release and rehabilitation and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)the  State-wise  number  of  bonded  labourers  released/rehabilitated during  each  of  the  last  three  years  and  the  current  year  so  far,
- State/UT-wise;
- (d)whether any assistance has been provided for this purpose especially  in  backward  and  rural  zones  of  the  country  during  the said period; and
- (e)if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): No such data is maintained.
- (b): The Bonded Labour System has been abolished by law throughout the country with effect from 25 th  October, 1975 under the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Ordinance which was replaced by the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976. Instances of prevalence  of  bonded  labour  system  are  noticed  now  and  then  even after its abolition. The root of the problem lies in the social customs and economic compulsions.

Under the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976 identification, release and rehabilitation of freed bonded labour is the direct responsibility of the concerned state government/union territory.  For these functions, District Magistrates and Sub-Divisional Magistrates have been entrusted with certain duties/responsibilities.

In order to assist the State Governments in the task of rehabilitation of identified and released bonded labourers, a Centrally Sponsored Plan Scheme for Rehabilitation of Bonded Labour has been in  operation  since  May,  1978.  The  Government  has  revamped  the Centrally Sponsored Plan Scheme for Rehabilitation of Bonded Labourers with effect from 17 th  May, 2016.  The salient features of the 'Central  Sector  Scheme  for  Rehabilitation  of  Bonded  Labourer,  2016' are as under:

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 where  the  District of differently abled  persons,  or in situations Magistrate deems fit.

The  financial assistance for rehabilitation is 100% funded by the Central Government.

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.

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.

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.

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.

(c) to (e): The number of bonded labourers released and rehabilitated and  central  assistance  provided  during  the  last  three  years  and current year (Till 12/2018)

| Year    | State/UT       |   No of Bonded Labourers released |   Central assistance provided (Rs. in lakhs) |
|---------|----------------|-----------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|
| 2015-16 | Uttar Pradesh  |                              2216 |                                        221.6 |
| 2016-17 | Bihar          |                              1792 |                                        179.2 |
|         | Uttar Pradesh  |                               258 |                                         25.8 |
|         | Jharkhand      |                               118 |                                         11.8 |
|         | Odisha         |                               258 |                                         25.8 |
|         | Karnataka      |                               181 |                                         18.1 |
| 2017-18 | Odisha         |                               742 |                                         74.2 |
|         | Uttar Pradesh  |                              3492 |                                        358.1 |
|         | Karnataka      |                              1500 |                                        150   |
|         | Bihar          |                               461 |                                         54.5 |
|         | Rajasthan      |                               159 |                                         15.9 |
|         | Chhattisga rh  |                                57 |                                         11.4 |
|         | Madhya Pradesh |                                 2 |                                          0.4 |
| 2018-19 | Chhattisga rh  |                              1276 |                                        127.6 |
|         | Uttar Pradesh  |                               741 |                                         74.1 |
|         | Bihar          |                               238 |                                         47.6 |
|         | Assam          |                                12 |                                          2.4 |
|         | Puducherry     |                                 9 |                                          1.8 |

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