Bonded Labour India

All work or service which is exacted from any person under the menace of any penalty and for which the said person has not offered himself voluntarily.

India has highest number of modern slavery in the world in absolute numbers – Global slavery Index 2016
Most of the Bonded Labour comprises of socially & economically weaker sections like SC’s, ST’s, Poor etc.

Article 23 of Indian Constitution – Forced labour is a punishable offence

Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976 – provisions for rehabilitation of freed bonded labourers and protection under forced eviction

Poor enforcement of bonded labor law
Unawareness in officials of existence of an act against bonded labor
Ability to support and rehabilitate fewer victims
Fewer perpetrators punished due to under resourced police and judiciary

Revamped Bonded Labour Scheme / Scheme for Rehabilitation of Bonded Labourers, 2016

The revised scheme is a Central Sector Scheme i.e. the State Government is not required to pay any matching contribution for the purpose of rehabilitation assistance
Rs 4.50 lakh will be provided per district for survey of bonded labourers
Release of rehabilitation assistance is linked to conviction of accused
Bonded Labour Rehabilitation Fund at district level by each state
Financial assistance based on adult male beneficiary, special category beneficiaries & involving extreme cases of deprivation + other benefits for which the beneficiary is entitled to under other such schemes

It is so deeply embedded in India’s socio-economic culture marked by caste class relations that it requires a holistic approach for law enforcement as well as comprehensive rehabilitation mechanism for social, psychological, educational and economic rehabilitation. Media support may also help put pressure on authorities to pursue the cases of bonded laborers.