Date:05/04/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/04/05/stories/2006040507311300.htm

National

Bonded labourers released

Siddharth Narrain

Gujarat, Haryana, Uttaranchal, Jharkand say they have no bonded labourers

NEW DELHI: According to information that the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has received from 10 States and the National Capital Territory of Delhi, of a total of 762 bonded labourers identified so far, 483 have been released. According to these figures, 857 employees have violated provisions of the Bonded Labourer System (Abolition) Act, 1976.

States and Union territories have to submit reports on the status of bonded labourers to the NHRC every three years in accordance with a Supreme Court order dated May 5, 2004. The Governments of Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkand, and Uttaranchal deny any instances of bonded labour there. Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh and Delhi have not submitted figures to the Commission.

The Supreme Court has instructed all State Governments and Union Territories to make arrangements for rehabilitating the released bonded labourers. The Labour Ministry, under the modified Centrally Sponsored Scheme for rehabilitation of bonded labour effective from May 2000, provides rehabilitation assistance to the extent of Rs. 20,000 for each bonded labourer. The Central and State governments share the expenditure equally.