Answer:

Bonded Labour refers to a worker who renders service under condition of bondage arising from economic consideration, notably indebtedness through a loan or an advance. Where debt is the root cause of bondage, the implication is that worker (or dependents or heirs) is tied to a particular creditor for a specified or unspecified period until the loan is repaid.

It is estimated that there are about 32 lakh bonded labourers in India. Of these, 98% are due to indebtedness and 2 per cent due to customary social obligations.