Question : BONDED CHILD LABOUR

(a) whether bonded child labours are being engaged in stone crushing industry in the country particularly in Jharkhand;

(b) if so, the details thereof indicating the estimated number of such bonded child labours, State-wise;

(c) whether any action has been taken against such owners of the stone crushers who have engaged bonded child labours; and

(d) if so, the details thereof alongwith the number of child labours rescued and rehabilitated during each of the last three years and thereafter, State-wise?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI OSCAR FERNANDES)

(a) to (d): The Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976 does not differentiate between the Adult bondage and child bondage. The Bonded Labourers are identified, released and rehabilitated by the State Governments and the Central Government is providing Grant-in-aid for rehabilitation of Bonded Labourers at the rate of Rs.20,000/- per bonded labour which is shared by the Central and State Government concerned on 50 : 50 basis. A Statement showing the total number of Bonded Labourers, identified, released, rehabilitated, and Central assistance provided, state-wise (including Jharkhand), till date, is annexed. Occupation-wise data on rehabilitation of Bonded Labour is not maintained.