The Government has adopted a multi- pronged strategy for abolition of bonded labourers system:

(i) 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

(ii) Implementation of Central Sector Scheme for Rehabilitation of Bonded Labourers: Under the Scheme, the Government of India provides financial assistance amounting to Rs.30,000/- for each case of rehabilitation. In addition to the financial assistance, the beneficiaries are also entitled for the following non-cash assistance from the respective State Government:

• Allotment of House/site & agricultural land
• Land development
• Provision of low cost dwelling Units.
• Animal husbandry, dairy, poultry, piggery etc.
• Wage employment, enforcement of minimum wages etc.
• Collection and processing of minor forest products.
• Supply of essential commodities under targeted public distribution system.
• Education for children.     

The details of bonded labourers rehabilitated under the Central Sector Scheme viz. Rehabilitation of Bonded Labour, State / UT- wise, during 2020 -21, 2021-22 and 2022-23 (up to February 2023) is as under:

Year	State/UT	Number of bonded labourers rescued/ rehabilitated
2020-21	Assam	1
	Bihar	220
	Madhya Pradesh	34
	Rajasthan	49
	West Bengal	16
2021-22	Bihar	360
	Tamil Nadu	1016
	Rajasthan	50
	Chhattisgarh	250
2022-23*	Rajasthan	70
	Tamil Nadu	297
	Uttar Pradesh	287

* upto February 2023.

The details of fund allocated under the scheme “Rehabilitation of Bonded Labourer” since 2018 are as under:

                                                                              (Rs.in crore)

Year	Budget Estimate
2018-19	10.00
2019-20	8.00
2020-21	10.00
2021-22	10.00
2022-23	10.00

 

This information was given by Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Shri Rameswar Teli in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.

 

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