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.
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.
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.
The State/ UT- wise number of bonded
labourers identified, released and rehabilitated and Central assistance
released to the States under the Centrally Sponsored Plan Scheme up to
31.03.2015.
|
Name of the State
|
Number of Bonded Labourers
|
|
Identified and Released
|
Rehabilitated
|
Central assistance provided
(Rs. in lakhs)
|
|
Andhra Pradesh
|
38,141
|
31,687
|
865.30
|
|
Arunachal Pradesh
|
3,526
|
2992
|
568.48
|
|
Bihar
|
15,395
|
14,577
|
548.98
|
|
Chhattisgarh
|
2215
|
2215
|
221.5
|
|
Gujarat
|
64
|
64
|
1.01
|
|
Haryana
|
594
|
92
|
5.23
|
|
Jharkhand
|
196
|
196
|
19.60
|
|
Karnataka
|
64,600
|
58,348
|
1694.48
|
|
Kerala
|
823
|
710
|
15.56
|
|
Madhya Pradesh
|
13,317
|
12,392
|
169.90
|
|
Maharashtra
|
1,404
|
1,325
|
10.10
|
|
Odisha
|
50,441
|
47,313
|
944.53
|
|
Punjab
|
252
|
252
|
25.20
|
|
Rajasthan
|
7713
|
6556
|
94.92
|
|
Tamil Nadu
|
65,573
|
65,573
|
1661.94
|
|
Uttar Pradesh
|
355,72
|
355,72
|
1308.13
|
|
Uttaranchal
|
5
|
5
|
0.50
|
|
West Bengal
|
344
|
344
|
27.26
|
|
TOTAL
|
3,00,175*
|
2,80,213
|
8182.62
|
NOTE
* 19962 Bonded Labourers are not available for
rehabilitation; they are either dead or untraceable as per report.
* An amount of Rs. 8182.62 lakhs as matching
rehabilitation grant has also been provided by the State Governments for
rehabilitation of bonded labour.
* In the case of North Eastern regions, 100% Central
grants (without matching States share) are provided for rehabilitation of
bonded labour. However, only Arunachal Pradesh has availed the 100% Central
assistance amounting to Rs. 568. 48 lakhs.
This was
stated by Shri Bandaru Dattatreya, the Minister of State(IC) for Labour
and Employment in response to a written question in Lok Sabha today
***
AT