Question : Bonded Labour

(a) whether the Government is aware that bonded labour still exists in the country and if so, the details of the report with the Government and the measures being taken by the Government to root out the menace;
(b) the programmes applicable for rescue and rehabilitation of bonded labour;
(c) the number of bonded labourers rescued under the Bonded Labourers Rehabilitation Scheme being implemented by the Government so far along with the State-wise details of men, women and children thereof;
(d) the amount of funds allocated and spent for rehabilitation of the bonded labourers rescued so far, district-wise in each of the State/UT; and
(e) the details of action taken against the employers of bonded labour and also the steps taken to send rescued children working as bonded labour to schools and to rehabilitate them?

MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)

(a) & (b): Instances of prevalence of forced and bonded labour system are noticed now and then even after its abolition by law with effect from 25th October, 1975. The reasons are spelt out exhaustively at Section 2(g) of The Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976. The root of the problem lies in the social customs and economic compulsions and they are yet to change in the desired direction.
Contd..2/-

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Government of India has adopted a three-pronged strategy for abolition of bonded labour system: (i) The Constitution of India vide Art.23 prohibits forced labour; (ii) Central Government enacted the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976; The Act empowers Executive Magistrates to exercise powers of Judicial Magistrate of first or second class for trial of offences; Vigilance Committees at District and Sub-divisional levels have been prescribed to identify and rehabilitate bonded labourers and (iii) a Centrally Sponsored Plan Scheme for Rehabilitation of Bonded Labour is under implementation since 1978 by which Central Government contributes Rs. 10,000/- for each case of rehabilitation.

(c)& (d): The State/UT-wise number of bonded labourers which may include men, women and children identified, released and rehabilitated and Central assistance released for rehabilitation of bonded labour up to 31.03.2015 is annexed.
(e): Actions against the employers of bonded labour under the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976 are to be taken by the State Governments. Under the Act, the District Magistrate has been conferred with the powers of Judicial Magistrate first class for convicting the perpetrators of bonded labour system. The Act provides for punishment of imprisonment for a term upto three years and fine upto Rs. two thousand for extracting bonded labour under the bonded labour system. Central Government does not maintain records on the number of cases and action taken against the guilty. This is not mandated under the Act.

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