Annual Report - National Human Rights Commission

Scourge of Bonded Labour
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Ganganagar, Dongarpur, Alwar, Banswara and Jhunjunu have been identified as ‘Bonded Labour
Prone Districts’. Vigilance Committees have been formed at all the 32 District HQs and 180 out
of a total of 188 Sub-Divisional HQs. The State Labour Committee on Bonded Labour has not
been meeting regularly. It has held no meeting after 10-09-2001.
9.6 Special surveys to detect the incidence of bonded labour were conducted in 9 districts
using the grant of Rs. 18 lakh received from the Ministry of Labour, Government of India. A
total of 213 bonded labourers were identified in 7 districts, namely Baran, Dholepur, Jodhpur,
Barmer, Alwar, Kota and Jaipur. However, after investigation of the results by the DMs, only 5
cases had been confirmed till the time of review (07-10-2004). (Reports of survey of Banswara
and Chittorgarh districts were still awaited). The Chairperson expressed his unhappiness over
the utilisation of a grant of Rs. 14 lakh in 7 districts ultimately leading to detection of only 5
bonded labourers. The Chief Secretary, Rajasthan agreed to get the findings of the surveys
verified personally by the DMs.
9.7 The last review made on 4-5 April 2002 had revealed 16 pending cases of rehabilitation of
released bonded labourers. All of them have been rehabilitated under the Centrally Sponsored
Scheme with benefits under the Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) scheme in the period of report. There
has been no detection of bonded labour in the State after the last detection reported on 5.2.2002.
This evoked an adverse comment from the Chairperson. 57 prosecutions were pending at the
time of the last review. 18 cases were filed under the Bonded Labour Act since then. 16 cases
have been decided leaving a final pendency of 59 cases.
9.8 Rs. 2.5 lakh out of a grant of Rs. 10 lakh received from the Union Ministry of Labour in
2001 for ‘Awareness Generation Programme’ on the evils of bonded labour had been spent till
the time of review.
Uttar Pradesh
9.9 Vigilance Committees are in position in all the 70 District HQs and 292 out of a total of 297
Sub-Divisional HQs.
9.10 The previous review made on 16-03-2004 had mentioned 395 pending cases of
rehabilitation of released bonded labourers. This figure rose to 398 on 31.3.04. It is heartening
that all the 398 cases were cleared by arranging rehabilitation under the Centrally Sponsored
Scheme in the period under review.
9.11 55 bonded labourers were identified and released in UP in 2004-05 – 15 in Allahabad,
4 in Mirzapur and 36 in Aligarh. All of them were migrant labourers and went back
to their native districts. Necessary action for their rehabilitation under the Centrally
Sponsored Scheme in their parent States was duly initiated. Prosecution aspect remains
totally neglected.
National Human Rights Commission Annual Report - 2004-2005
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