Rehabilitation of Bonded Labour Scheme Yojana
Bonded labours or debt bondage is one of the huge problems that exist in India. After having laws for abolition of such labours the problem remains the same. In 2015, government has started Rehabilitation of Bonded Labours Scheme to abolish the problems of bonded labours in the country. In 2016, the government has revised the scheme for betterment of the bonded labours. The financial help from the government has increased almost 5 times for the labours who are suffering immensely due to such debt bondage system in India. The minister of State (IC) labour and employment, Shri Dattatreya has announced on 17th May that the budget for this scheme has risen to nearly 47 crores from 5 crores. Each individual, be it a woman, child or male will get enough assistance to recover from their debt.
What is Bonded Labours?
Bonded labours are the biggest example of poverty level of any nation. The entire world witnesses bonded labours every now and then. Being a developing nation India has a large portion of bonded labours in rural areas. By definition, bonded labours are those who work under the employers to repay their loan or debt. In bonded labours the men are forced to work to clear their debts. This occurs in lot of places across the country due to poverty. Here in bonded labours people do not get paid as they are trapped in debt. Even if they are paid, the amount is so less that they can’t even survive with that income. Not only the men but also women and children are involved in such forceful labours in India.
The bonded labours exist in across the world. As mentioned it occurs due to poverty. Countries which have high level of poverty have bonded labours. Unfortunately India is one such country where bonded labours exist in almost each corner of the country has such labour force.
Abolition of Bonded Labours
- In 1976, a law had made against bonded labours in India. But due to pathetic law enforcement and weak implementation the law had failed to abolish such labours from India. Even after implementing that law, all the states had witnessed bonded labours time to time.
- After 1976, there are many law and acts have been made to abolish bonded labours. One such act is child labour act in 1986. Before ’76, there were contract labour (abolition) act in 1970 was made. But unfortunately nothing could change the lives of such labours who had to suffer due to forceful labours.
- In 2011, the government of India has launched Rehabilitation of Bonded Labours Scheme to support such labours financially. As said, the debt bondage occurs due to economical weakness, Government has promised to pay minimum of Rs. 20, 000/- to labours to recover their loan amount and release them from this forceful work.
Rehabilitation of Bonded Labours Scheme 2011
This RBLS has launched in 2011. According to the scheme, people who have released from the bonded labours system will be given financial help for rehabilitation. Then PM of India, Shree Manmohan Singh had started this scheme where each labour will be paid Rs. 20, 000/- for their betterment. The budget at that time was set at Rs. 5 Crore for this scheme.
Under this scheme, each district will get Rs. 2 lakhs to assist eligible labours. The fund will be released throught he district magistrate.
Revised Rehabilitation of Bonded Labours Scheme 2016
On 17th of the month May, 2016, Labour and Employment minister has declared a revised amount under this RBL scheme. As he said that the time has changed and of course the need of the people has changed as well. Today, the way people are suffering from poverty, 20, 000/- is way too less for them to have a standard living. Looking at such scenario the government has taken this initiative to hike the amount of money under this scheme.
According to him, the amount of assistance will be raised to Rs. 1 lakh each from Rs. 20, 000/-. Also he mentioned that the children, disabled, female, sexually harassed, transgender, trafficking and such affected people will get financial assistance of Rs. 3 lakhs. On the other female and minor labours who are released, rather rescued from the bonded labours will receive Rs. 2 lakhs. Finally the ordinary bonded labours will get Rs. 1 lakh. There will be an annuity account where the money will be credited.
The fund will be sent to the district magistrate or collectors. They will then pursue the funding procedure to the needy people. Rs. 10 lakh will be provided to the collectors and DMs for preliminary actions, later on the rest money can be obtained from the state or central government through reimbursement process. According to the scheme, the collectors and DMs need to survey and identify the real bonded labours so that they can receive the help. Also there will be non-cash help for the labours such as house, land, PDS and other benefits by the DMS and collectors through several state level programs. Shree Dattatreya has also announced that the DM or collectors of the area will have the power to help such labours who are not bonded but have immense financial or other problems. Child marriage, sexual exploitation and other non-socio activities should be closely observed and employers need to be punished.
Women and children must be under care of the state and state will take steps to give them a better life. With implementation of the revised scheme, the authorities make sure that the cases and trials related to such forceful labours should be taken to the session court in a same day. These trials should be treated like the other cases and without any delay court must take actions against such employers.
Rehabilitation of Bonded Labours Scheme – Revised
| Issues | Previous RBL scheme | RBL scheme 2016 |
| Amount of help | RS. 20,000/- | Up to RS. 3 lakhs |
| Non-cash help | None | Land, house, PDS |
| Punishment | Delay | Same day |
| Budget | 5 Crores | 47 Crores |
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