Bonded Labour India

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

Issues related to bonded labour

• 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.

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