Lok Sabha Question No. 1709 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-13
Subject: Bonded Labourers in backward and rural Areas
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Arun Kumar Sagar

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

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1709 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.02.2023

## BONDED LABOURERS IN BACKWARD AND RURAL AREAS

†1709. SHRI ARUN KUMAR SAGAR:

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

- (a)the estimated number  of bonded  labourers especially in the backward and rural areas of the country as on date, State-wise;
- (b)whether  any  scheme  has  been  formulated  or  proposed  to  be formulated for the rescue and rehabilitation of the said labourers, if so, the details thereof;
- (c)the  number  of  bonded  labourers  freed/  rehabilitated  so  far  as  on date, State-wise;
- (d)whether  any  assistance  has  been  provided  for  the  said  purpose particularly  in  the  backward and rural areas of the country during the last three years, if so, the details thereof, State-wise; and
- (e)whether  any  committee  has  been  constituted  or  proposed  to  be constituted to trace the bonded labourers to get them released and rehabilitated, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

(a) to (d): The Ministry of Labour & Employment has been implementing a Central Sector Scheme  viz. Rehabilitation of Bonded Labourer  for  identification  and  rehabilitation  of  bonded  labourers. Under  the  Scheme,  rehabilitation  assistance  to  the  tune  of  Rs.  1.00 lakh,  Rs.  2.00  lakh  and  Rs.  3.00  lakh  are  provided  to  each  rescued bonded  labourers  based  on  their  category  and  level  of  exploitation. Besides, there is a provision to provide immediate financial assistance upto Rs. 30,000/- to each rescued bonded labour.

The  rehabilitation  assistance  amount  is  provided  by  the respective  State/Union  Territories  to  the  rescued  bonded  labourers which are reimbursed by Central Government. The details of number of bonded labourers rescued & rehabilitated and details of rehabilitation amount released during 2020-21 to 2022-23, State-wise, (upto 31.01.2023) is annexed.

(e): Under the Bonded Labour Act, 1976, there is a provision of constitution of Vigilance Committee by State Government. Every State Government  shall,  by  notification  in  the  Official  Gazette,  constitute such number of Vigilance Committees in each district and each SubDivision as it may think fit. The vigilance committee is responsible for providing  economic  and  social  rehabilitation  to  the  freed  bonded labourers.

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Annexure ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  TO  (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1709 FOR 13.02.2023 BY SHRI ARUN KUMAR SAGAR REGARDING BONDED LABOURERS IN BACKWARD AND RURAL AREAS

| Year          | State/UT       |   Assistance (Rs. in lakh) |   No. of Bonded Labourer Rehabilitated* |
|---------------|----------------|----------------------------|-----------------------------------------|
| 2020-21       | Bihar          |                      43.65 |                                     220 |
| 2020-21       | West Bengal    |                      11.2  |                                      16 |
| 2020-21       | Rajasthan      |                       9.8  |                                      49 |
| 2020-21       | Assam          |                       2    |                                       1 |
| 2020-21       | Madhya Pradesh |                       6.2  |                                      34 |
|               | Chhattisgarh   |                      50    |                                     250 |
|               | Tamil Nadu     |                     203.13 |                                    1016 |
|               | Bihar          |                      58    |                                     360 |
| 2021-22       | Rajasthan      |                      10    |                                      50 |
| 2022-23 (upto | Rajasthan      |                      14    |                                      70 |
|               | Uttar Pradesh  |                     390.2  |                                     287 |
| 31.01.2023)   | Tamil Nadu     |                      59.4  |                                     297 |

*upto 31.01.2023

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