‘Rescue of bonded workers is only the first step’

Bonded labour may be legally abolished. However, cases linked to it continue to surface across several sectors. Deepak Anand, secretary, labour resources and migrant workers welfare department, govt of Bihar, tells TOI’s Sheezan Nezami about the mechanisms in place to tackle the menace. Excerpts:


How is your department working to curb the menace of bonded labour?

Bonded labour is a prohibited and punishable offence under the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976. The law not only abolishes the bonded labour system but also extinguishes bonded debt and provides for the identification, release, protection and rehabilitation of affected persons. Under the Act, the district magistrate is the primary authority responsible for implementation, prevention, rescue and rehabilitation, while district and sub-divisional vigilance committees are constituted to monitor and assist this process. These committees are mandated to advise the district magistrate, survey areas where bonded labour may exist, keep track of offences and support the rehabilitation of freed labourers. Our approach is not only punitive but also preventive. Since bonded labour often arises from debt, advance payments, coercion, restricted mobility, withheld wages or physical intimidation, the department focuses on both rescue and reducing structural vulnerabilities.

Which are the sectors and the places from where most of the cases related to bonded labourers are reported?

Bonded labour cases are generally reported from sectors where workers are poor, migrant, informally hired, wage-dependent and often recruited through middlemen or advances. In the experience of Bihar-origin migration patterns, such cases are commonly seen in brick kilns.

How is the rehabilitation done? What are the financial helps and other aides provided to such labourers after their release?

Rehabilitation of bonded labourers is carried out under the Central Sector Scheme for Rehabilitation of Bonded Labourers, 2021, along with district-level convergence support. The rehabilitation process is not limited to rescue; it includes formal recognition, immediate support, financial assistance and long-term reintegration. Once a bonded labour situation is identified, the worker is rescued by the competent authority, generally under the supervision of the district magistrate, and a release certificate is issued. The scheme provides immediate relief of Rs 30,000 soon after the rescue so that the rescued person is not forced back into exploitative labour. After verification and certification, the rescued bonded labourer becomes eligible for rehabilitation assistance under the central scheme. The financial assistance varies by vulnerability category up to Rs 3,00,000. In addition to financial assistance, rehabilitation may include ration, temporary accommodation, medical treatment, an employment card, social security, pension and legal aid.

Is there any centre or wing under the labour department which looks after this issue?

Yes. At the administrative level, the issue is monitored through the labour resources and migrant workers welfare department, and in Bihar the labour commissioner plays an important coordinating and supervisory role in bonded labour matters, especially where labour mobility, rescue coordination and inter-district or interstate follow-up are involved. However, under the law, the primary statutory responsibility lies with the district magistrate. The Act clearly places the implementation responsibility on the district administration, not only on labour inspectors or labour offices.

People often complain of difficulty in availing bonded labour release certificates. Don’t you think there should be a one-stop centre or a designated official to coordinate between two states and solve the problem?

Yes, this is a valid and serious concern, and in practical terms there should be a clearly designated single-window authority for such cases, especially where the rescue happens in one state and the victim belongs to another state, as is often the case with Bihar migrant workers. At the district level, the district magistrate remains the competent statutory authority, but at the state level the labour commissioner can and should serve as the nodal coordination point so that rescued labourers do not have to run from office to office.