Initiatives for the elimination of bonded labour

♤ Articles 21 and 23 of the Constitution and Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976.

♤ SC in several judgements, has given directions to improve the situation and since 1997, NHRC has been directly involved in monitoring situation and making reports to SC.

♤ Government had initiated a Centrally Sponsored Scheme under which Rs 4,000 was initially provided for the rehabilitation of each bonded labourer.

♤ Till March 2015, more than 3 lakh bonded labourers have been identified and released.

♤ Centre also provides assistance for surveys, awareness campaigns and evaluations. Released bonded labourers are given priority in a number of government programmes.

♤ Since June 2000, ILO has been implementing a project to prevent and eliminate bonded labour in South Asia..

India has a plethora of labour legislation regulating conditions of work of contract and migrant labour, prohibiting child labour in hazardous industries, and for minimum wages. But these remain in large part unimplemented. A concerted effort to ensure implementation of the law, by government in close cooperation with employers’ and workers’ organisations and civil society, is called for in this respect.