MINISTER OF STEEL, MINES, LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)
(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 197 FOR 21.07.2014 BY SHRI FEROZE VARUN GANDHI: SHRI ASHOK MAHADEORAO NETE:
(a) & (b): The Bonded Labour System has been abolished by law throughout the country with effect from 25th October, 1975 under the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Ordinance which was replaced by the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976. As and when existence of bonded labour is detected, such persons are identified for rehabilitation. The responsibility for identifying and rehabilitating the bonded labourers lies with the respective State Governments. According to the information received from State Governments, the total number of bonded labour identified and released is 2,99,322 as on 31.03.2014. The State-wise details are given below:
Name of the State Number of Bonded Labourers Identified and Rehabilitated Released Andhra Pradesh 38,141 31,687 Arunachal Pradesh 3,526 2992 Bihar 15,395 14,577 Chhattisgarh 1,362 1,362 Gujarat 64 64 Haryana 594 92 Jharkhand 196 196 Karnataka 64,600 58,348 Kerala 823 710 Madhya Pradesh 13,317 12,392 Maharashtra 1,404 1,325 Odisha 50,441 47,313 Punjab 252 252 Rajasthan 7,713 6,556 Tamil Nadu 65,573 65,573 Uttar Pradesh 35,572 35,572 Uttarakhand 5 5 West Bengal 344 344 TOTAL 2,99,322# 2,79,360
# 19962 Bonded Labourers are not available for rehabilitation either they have died or left the place without leaving their addresses.
(c) & (d): Under the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976, identification, release and rehabilitation of freed bonded labour is the direct responsibility of the concerned States/Union Territories. The Central Government has not set up any rehabilitation centre for rescued bonded labourers. However, in order to assist the State Governments in the task of rehabilitation of identified and released bonded labour, a Centrally Sponsored Plan Scheme for Rehabilitation of Bonded Labour is in operation since May, 1978. Under the Scheme, rehabilitation assistance @ Rs. 20,000/- per bonded labour is provided which is equally borne by the Central and State Government. Under the Scheme, Central assistance provided to the State Governments for rehabilitation of bonded labour during the last three years is as under:
Year State Amount (Rs. in lakhs) 2011-12 Odisha 38.39 Karnataka 7.30 Andhra Pradesh 15.30 Bihar 68.20 Rajasthan 2.50 Haryana 0.30 Uttar Pradesh 339.10 Punjab 1.90 2012-13 Chhattisgarh 55.00 Rajasthan 5.00 Uttar Pradesh 133.50 Karnataka 109.00 Punjab 16.40 2013-14 Odisha 2.80 Rajasthan 15.00 Uttar Pradesh 180.00
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