1. International Reseach Journal,November,2010 ISSN-0975-3486 RNI: RAJBIL 2009/300097 VOL-I *ISSUE 14
12 RESEARCH ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION
1. CONCEPTOFBONDEDLABOUR:-Bonded
labour implies services which are rendered under
forcedorcompulsoryconditionsandwhichariseout
ofmortgagingoneselftoanotherforsomeeconomic
condition. Such consideration may be loan/ debt/
advance or any other. A bonded labour implies one
whorendersbondedservicei.e.Servicearisingoutof
certain obligations flowing from economic
consideration like loan / debt / advance, customary
obligations, forced labour, indebtness. The bonded
labour system represents essentially the relation
between a creditors and debtor. When a debtor incur
loan/ debt/ advance from the creditor, he undertakes
to mortgage his services or the service of any of his
family members to the creditor for specified or for an
unspecifiedperiodwithcertainconsequencesassuch
as :-i.Service without wages or with nominal wages
ii.Denial of choice of alternative avenues of
employment. iii.Denial of the right to move freely.
iv.Denialoftherighttoselloneslabourortheproduct
of ones labour at marketvalue.
Theseconsequencesmayexistindividually
or collectively. It is however not at all necessary that
all consequence should be together in existences to
prove the existence of bonded labour system
existenceofcreditors’debtors-relationshipwithone
oftheconsequencesasaboveisenoughtodetermine
of existence of bonded labour system.
2. CONSTITUTIONALANDLEGALPROVISIONS.
:-Theconstitutionof Indiaguaranteestoallitscitizens
social,economicandpoliticaljustice,Libertyofthought
expression,belief,faithandworship,equalityofstatus
and of opportunity, fraternity, assuring the dignity of
theIndividualandtheunityandintegrityofthenation.
Under article 23(1) of constitution prohibited beggar
andothersimilarforms&offorcedlabourareprohibited
and any contravention of this provision shall be an
offencepunishableinaccordancewithlaw.Article35
(a) (II) of constitution not only confers the power on
parliament to provide for punishment for the
contraventionofthesaidprovisionsofarticle23(I)but
expresslytakesawaythepowerofthestatelegislation
November, 2010
to make any legislation with regard to the said matter.
Thereareseveralprovisionsintheconstitution,which
areinconsonancewithhespiritofarticle23.Thereare
article19(righttofreedom),article21(protectionoflife
and personal liberty) article 24 (Prohibition of
employment of children in factories mines and other
formsofhazardouswork),article38thestatetosecure
a social order for the promotion of the welfare of the
people.
After Independence the provincial level
Acts were orrissa debt. Bondage regulation 1948,
RajasthanSagrisystemAct1961andKeralabonded
laboursystemAct1975,whileattheprovinciallevel
anumberofisolatedlegislativeeffortshadbeenmade,
actuated by a host of varying considerations the
laws so enacted did not deal with the issues of
identification, release and rehabilitation of bonded
laborers in their entirely for the whole country. The
constitutional directive and in the wake of the
obligation emanating from ratification of ILO
convention number 29 in November 1954, the need
fornationallegislationhadbeenfeltlongsince.After
few year the bonded labour system (Abolition)
ordinance1975waspromulgatedbythepresidenton
24/10/1975 and this act was passed both houses on
02/09/1976 by this ordinance the bonded labour
systemwasabolishedandthebondedwerefreedand
discharge from any obligation to render any bonded
labourandtheirbondeddebtswerealsoextinguished.
3.MAIN PROVISIONS OF BONDED LABOUR
(ABOLITION) ACT1976 :-i.Theprovisionofshort
title,extentandcommencementhasbeengiven under
Section 1. ii.The provision of definition, agreement,
ascendant or descendant, bonded debt, bonded
labour, bonded labour system, family and nominal
wages has been given under Section 2 & 3. iii.The
Provision of commencement of bonded labour
systemshallstandabolishedanyagreementofcustom
as such will be null and void has been given under
Section 4 & 5.
iv. The provision of every obligation of a bonded
labour liability to repay bonded debt. To stand
Research Paper
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A STUDY OF BONDED LABOUR SCHEMES IN
BILASPUR DISTRICT(C.G.)
* Dr. K.K. Singh **Anita Pathak
* Labour Inspector,A-19, Babji Nagar, Tifra, Bilaspur (C.G.)
** Executive,Apollo Hospitals, Bilaspur (C.G.)

2. International Reseach Journal,November,2010 ISSN-0975-3486 RNI: RAJBIL 2009/300097 VOL-I *ISSUE 14
13RESEARCH ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION
extinguished, property of bonded labour to be freed
from mortgage & creditor not to accept payment
against extinguished has been given under Section
6 to 9.
v.The provision of district magistrate can made trial
of offences under this act has been given under
section 10.
vi. The provision of duty of district magistrate &
otherofficershallasforaspracticabletrytopromote
the welfare of the free bonded labour has been given
under section 11. vii.The provision of every district
magistrate or officer shall take such actions may be
necessary to radical enforcement of forced labour
has been given under section 12. viii. The
provisionofvigilancecommitteesshallbeconstituted
at district and sub. Division level has been given
under section 13 to 15.
ix. The provision of offences and procedure for trial
has been given under section 16 to 23.
4.GUIDELINESFORBONDEDLABOURS:-Being
enactedthebondedlabour(abolition)Act1976,central
Government had issued guidelines and budget for
release, rescue and rehabilitation of bonded labours.
Theguidelinesofcentralgovernmentweregivenbelow:-
i.OrganizationofNationalsurveyjointlyconducted
bytheGandhipeace foundationandNationallabour
Institute for estimation of the member of bonded
labours (1978-79) ii. Inclusion of rehabilitation of
freed bonded labour as an item in the new 20 point
economic programme announced to the nation on
14/01/1982,holdingaNationalseminaronidentification,
release and rehabilitation on bonded labours in Feb.
1983. iii. Amendment of Section 2(g) of bonded
laboursystem(Abolition)Act1976 inApril 1985 to
an explanation to bring contract and migrantlabour
within the purview of bonded labour system. iv.
OpeningacellinLalbahdurShastriNationalAcademy
of Administration in 1986-87 for taking up
documentation exclusively on bonded labour with
involvement of member of Indians administrative
service, the future administration of the country. v.
Deputingseniorofficialsoftheministryof labourto
different parts of the country for on the spot review
of the pace of implementation of programmes of
rehabilitation of freed bonded labourers. vi.
Involvement of the Programme Evaluation
Organization (PEA) of the Planning Commission
andCentreforRuralDevelopment,IndianInstituteof
Public Administration (IIPA) for content, process
and impact evaluation of the programmes or
rehabilitationforfreedbondedlabour.vii.Thelatest
involvement of the National Human Rights
Commissionwith theworkofidentification,release
andrehabilitationof bondedlabourers w.e.f.11.11.97
at the behest of the supreme count and
pronouncement of a good number of landmark
judgments for the apex count setting the tone and
paceofworkrelatingtoeliminationofforced/bonded
labour are some of the notable development.
5. NEEDFORTHESTUDY:-Bondedlaboursystem
isacancerforsocietysoitisnecessarytorootoutthis
illness’fromsociety.BondedLaboursystemexistsin
different part of the country, a system of usury under
which the debtor or his descendants or dependants
have to work for the creditors without reasonable
wagesorwithnowagesinordertoextinguishthedebt.
The system implies the infringe most of the basic
humanrightsanddestructionofthedignityofhuman
labour.Anextensiveresearchworkhasbeendoneon
schemesforBondedLabourofBilaspurDistrict(C.G.).
The present study was undertaken to know schemes
forBondedLabours.ThestudywouldhelpfulN.G.O.,
workers, employers, District Administration &
Government.
6. OBJECTIVESOFTHESTUDY:-Thepresent
studyisundertakentofulfillthefollowingobjectives:-
i.To know the system of implementation of
identification, release and rehabilitation of bonded
labour.ii.To know the implementation status of
schemes for bonded labour.iii.To offer suggestion
for stopping bonded labour system.
7. HYPOTHESISOFTHESTUDY:-
i.There is no significant presence of bonded labour in
BilaspurDistrict(C.G.)ii.The Schemes run by district
administration is upgrading the life of
migrant bonded larbours.
8.AREAOFTHESTUDY:-TheAreaofthestudyis
BilaspurDistrictof Chhattisgarh state. The study
yearis2009-10.
9.METHODOLOGYOFTHESTUDY:-Theresearch
is based on secondary source of data taken from
magazines. Journals, Books and office record of
District Magistrate Bilaspur and Assistant Labour
commission Bilaspur to find out the status of
implementation of Bonded Labours Schemes which
is being run by central & state Government.
10.PROFILEOFTHEDISTRICTBILASPUR:-
BilaspurisaRevenueDistrictofChhattisgarhState.
Itislocated111Kms.NorthofthestatecapitalRaipur
(C.G.).BilaspurDistrictisfamousforricequality,Silk
Industry and cultural Background. Bilaspur District
is located in eastern part of Chhattisgarh and fall
withinlatitude21’47"to23’8"andlongitude8’14"
to83’15"andsurroundedbyKoriyaDistrict,Shahdol
DistrictofMadhyaPradeshinNorth,RaipurDistrict
inSouth,KorbaandJanjgeer-ChampaDistrictinEast

3. International Reseach Journal,November,2010 ISSN-0975-3486 RNI: RAJBIL 2009/300097 VOL-I *ISSUE 14
14 RESEARCH ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION
and Kawardha in West. The Total area of Bilaspur
District is approximately 6377 SQ K.M. The Total
populationofDistrictis1993042(Census2001.The
PopulationofS.T.&S.C.inBilaspurDistrictis20%
& 19 % respectively. The Bilaspur District is most
MigrantArea for Labour. They go to out of state for
Brick Kiln & Construction works. Going there they
becomebondedsothisismainProblembeforeBilaspur
DistrictAdministration.
11. SYSTEMOFIDENTIFICAITON,RELEASE&
REHABILITATIONOFBONDEDLABOUR:-Central
Government has given the actual responsibility for
implementation rest on shoulders of the state
government. The incidence of bonded labour system
has been reported primarily from Andhra Pradesh,
Bihar, Karnataka, Kerla, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa,
Rajasthan,TamilNaidu&UttarPradesh.TheseStates
hadtakentimelyinitiativethroughandavaryingscale
for identification, release & rehabilitation of bonded
labours.StatelikeHariyana&Gujrathadtakenstand
right from the beginning. A welcome change in the
stand of the Government of Hariyana, Gujrat &
Maharastrawerebroughtaboutinthewakeofdirections
fromtheapexandHighCourt,suchtypeotherstateshad
started identification, release & rehabilitation to bonded
labours.Ason31/03/2006,280411bondedlabourshave
beenidentifiedandreleased,251569bondedlabourshave
been rehabilitated and 28041 are left to be rehabilitated
20,000personsareyettobetraced.Eithertheyhaveleftthis
hearthandhomeandmigratedtootherpartsofthecountry
or are dead.The law provide for the duties and
responsibilitiesoftheDistrictMagistrateandeveryofficer
specified by act. They have to ensure that the provisions
of the act are properly carried out. The law also provides
fortheconstitutionofvigilancecommitteesatthedistrict
and sub Divisional level, duties and responsibilities of
suchcommitteesintheareaofidentification,releaseand
rehabilitationofforcedBondedLabours.
AspernormsVigilanceCommitteeisfunctioning
inBilaspurDistrictaswellasinSubDivisionallevel.Collector
becomesthechairperson(President)ofDistrictVigilance
Committee.11membersofVigilanceCommitteehavebeen
nominated by District Magistrate. Five sub Divisional
VigilanceCommitteeshasbeenformedatBilaspur,Bilha,
Kota,Lormi,PendraAndMungeli.EachSubDivisional
VigilanceCommitteeispresidedoverbySubDivisional
MagistrateandeachCommitteeconsistsof7nominated
member by Sub Divisional Magistrate District & Sub
Divisional Vigilance Committees have taken steps to
generate awareness, rescue, release, rehabilitation and
welfareprogramme.PeriodicallyMeetingsareorganized
byvigilancecommitteesoastoanalyzethecomplaints
receivedandactiontakensuchasinbetweenyear2000
to2010nosuchBondedLabourcasesinBilaspurDistrict
have been registered. Thus proving that fact that such
system does not prevail in Bilaspur District.
12.AWERNESSPROGRAMMEANDACTIONOF
DISTRCTADMINISTRATION:-Theseprogrammes
aregiven:-i.ThemigrantLabourisregisteredatGram
Panchayat Level and has given the information
about Bonded Labour. ii. On regular basis public
grievance, redresses camps are heldandthe district
administration makes a point to distribute literature
and spread awareness among people. iii.The Labour
Department regularly deputes Labour Inspector in
the identified pocket in particular and the rural area
ingeneralforsame.iv.TheDistrictmagistratemakes
inter district communication to release, rescue to
bonded labours. v. S. P. deputes separate team for
rescue to bonded labour. vi.Ajoint team of revenue,
policeandlabourdepartmentsendtorelease bonded
labour on delay.
Because of above awareness and action
promgramme of district administration, Complaints
regardingmigrantlabourthosewhogotootherstates
forbetterwageandemployment.Maximumnumbers
ofmigrantworkersgotoU.P.,M.P.,Bihar,WestBengal,
Panjub, Hariyana, Jammu & Kashmir, Maharastra,
Gujrat & Delhi etc for Brick Kiln & Construction
works and they become bonded. Their complaints
are received and send a letter to related District
Magistrate to release and risqué and then reach to
their home to Bonded Labours, if complaints are
correct. Compliments regarding migrant works are
givenbelow.InformationofComplimentsregarding
migrant workers Received. Above table shows that
from 2000-2010, 896 complaints regarding migrant
Labour have been received, 864 found incorrect, 32
foundcorrectand787workershavebeenreleaseand
rescued.
13.REHABILITATION&WELFARESCHEMES
OF FREEDBONDEDLABOUR:-Rehabilitationof
freed bonded labour is an extremely complex and
difficult task but District administration of Bilaspur
(C.G.)hasstartedsomanyrehabilitationandwelfare
schemes for bonded labour & their family which are
given below. i. All most such bonded labours have
beenissuedJobCardunderNREGAprogrammes.ii.
The DistrictAdministration is trying to in corporate
such bonded labours under Minimata Scheme,
Antahvyawasai, Prime Ministers Employment
schemes. iii.District administration is providing
opportunity under Pradhanmantry Gram Swarojgar
Yojna.iv.HomelessBondedLabourisbeingcovered
under Indira awash Yojna.v.The District
Administrationislookingforwardtoimplementone

4. International Reseach Journal,November,2010 ISSN-0975-3486 RNI: RAJBIL 2009/300097 VOL-I *ISSUE 14
15RESEARCH ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION
of the most important directions given by honorable
SupremeCourttoformamodelrehabilitationcentre.
vi. One percent cess collected under the building &
other construction workers welfare board is to be
spent on the registered Bonded Labour.vii. The
children of bonded Labours are thus put to school to
keepthemalongwiththemainstream.viii.Rs.10.60
lacs were distributed among 53 families under
rehabilitationintheyear2008.ix.Rs.46.00lacswere
distributedamong462bondedlabour.Earlier2010.
14.SUGGESTION:-
i.Bondedlabourshouldbeidentifiedindry,drought.
prone and public works should be started at those
areas. ii. A drive is required & to be simultaneously
launchedenforcementofminimumwages.iii.Adrive
is required to be launched for timely adjudication of
allclaimsundersection20ofM.W.Act1948.iv.Public
Distribution system & all other schemes and
programmes run by government shall be made more
vibrant and transparent so that whatever people at or
below the subsistence level earn could be utilized in
purchase essential commodities. v.Awareness
programme should be made timely.
15. CONCLUSION :- On account of the effective
roleofvigilancecommitteemadeforthereasonsand
its proper monitoring has resulted into the non
presenceofbondedlabourinBilaspurDistrict.Apart
from this the schemes and programmes running for
the rehabilitation and welfare of the migrant bonded
labour from other states have been fruitful, as a
consequence of which a total of 787 migrant bonded
labours of other states were released rescued &
rehabilitatedfrom2000to2009-10.Nonavailabilityof
bonded labours indicates that the role of vigilance
committee & law enforced in this regard have been
very effective and the schemes are required to run
furtherwithsomemoreimprovementsuchasmedical
facilitiesforthefamilyofmigrantbondedlabourand
fee exemptions to their children.
i. Potdar B. R. “Labour & Industrial law in Madhya Pradesh/ Chhattisgarh” (2008) Wadhwa & Company Law book Sellers
& Publishers, 27 M.G. Road, Indore, Madhya Pradesh. ii. Ministry of Law (2004) “Abolition of Bonded Labour System”
Government of India Ministry of Labour New Delhi. iii.Human rights manual for District Magistrate, & N.H.R.C., Faridkot
House, New Delhi. iv. Jain B.M.E. “Research Methodology” (1987). Research Publication, Jaipur (Rajsthan). v.
Information and data are collected from office of district magistrate & Assistant Labour Commissioner, Bilaspur (C.G.)
R E F E R E N C E
Information of Compliments regarding migrant workers Received.