Pintu Kumar, a 16-year-old from Chhapra in Bihar, describes the severe hardships he faced starting at the age of 14 when he was coerced into bonded labour. Pintu's account of his experience is chilling: "I was forced into being a bonded labourer. They would make me carry heavy loads. When I said it was too heavy, they would abuse and hurt me. They had locked me up and forced me to work. I had no freedom. I was a slave."
There are many like Pintu. Some children are trafficked, while others are sent off by parents who are extremely poor and have no other means to raise their children.
Mohammed Ullah's decision to send his 14-year-old son, Sakib, to work in a factory resulted in unforeseen consequences when Sakib was forced into slavery in Bihar. Reflecting on his decision, Ullah expressed the economic desperation that led to this grave situation: "Hum majdoor hain. Hum majboor the. Hum gareeb hain" — "I am a labourer. I was helpless. I am poor."
Similarly, 24-year-old Lukas Lomga from Simdega in Jharkhand shares a painful recount of his childhood ensnared in bonded labour. Forced into this brutal reality at just 12 years old, Lukas was trafficked to various cities including Delhi and Jaipur for bonded labour. "Until I was finally rescued, as a child I was trafficked to many places. I had no freedom. My employers would beat me. I would be abused. My entire childhood went off in being a bonded labourer," Lukas recounts.
Law Exists Only on Paper, Lacking Implementation
The Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act of 1976 marked a significant legislative stride towards eradicating bonded labour in India by freeing all bonded labourers and annulling their debts, making the practice a cognisable offence under the law.
In an effort to bolster these efforts, the Ministry of Labour introduced a Centrally Sponsored Scheme in May 1978, aimed at assisting state governments in the rehabilitation of liberated bonded labourers. This scheme has undergone several revisions, the most notable being in 2016 when it was renamed the "Central Sector Scheme for Rehabilitation of Bonded Labourer – 2016," with further modifications in January 2022.
Despite these legal frameworks and schemes, Gorana points out critical shortcomings in the execution of these programs. "Rehabilitation packages often do not reach the affected victims," he asserts. He also challenges the authenticity of the government's statistics regarding the issue, labelling them as "not factual and a big lie."
"The freed bonded labourers receive a release certificate, and only upon acquiring this certificate can they access the rehabilitation package. Depending on their gender and circumstances, rescued bonded labourers are entitled to compensation amounts ranging from 1 lakh to 3 lakh rupees. However, the major issue is the difficulty in obtaining the release certificate. Even those who obtain it may not receive the promised funds. The implementation of the rehabilitation package is severely flawed, leading to discrepancies between the government's reported achievements and the reality on the ground, with much of the data purportedly manipulated," asserts Gorana.
Onkar Sharma, Chief Labour Commissioner at the Ministry of Labour and Employment, acknowledges the legal framework in place to combat bonded labour: "We have the law in place. We are trying our best to enforce the law and we also have rehabilitation packages."
However, when questioned about the difficulties rescued victims face in obtaining justice, including securing release certificates and accessing rehabilitation packages, he points to the responsibilities of the state governments: "This law is to be enforced by the state governments. After they get the release certificates, it is through the District Collector and state government that the rescued victims can access the central government’s rehabilitation package. If the bonded labourers are not getting justice then they can always approach us."
Although the government maintains that state authorities should enforce existing laws and assist victims, the reality is that rescued bonded labourers, among the poorest in society, often do not know whom to approach for help. Merely shifting responsibility is not a solution. The law and justice system must extend its reach to support these oppressed individuals. They should not have to endure the confusion and helplessness of seeking assistance from multiple sources, particularly as many of these victims are not only unaware of their rights but also find themselves in desperate situations.
At The Probe, our commitment to social impact journalism is at the core of everything we do. Funded by well-meaning individuals from the public, our aim is to drive positive social change and make a real-world impact through the stories we report.
If you wish to support us, please visit our Truth Brigade page and contribute to a cause that resonates with you the most. It is through your support that we have been able to keep the flame of our journalism alive in these difficult times. Click link to support us to make a difference: https://theprobe.in/truth-brigade
Pintu Kumar, a 16-year-old from Chhapra in Bihar, describes the severe hardships he faced starting at the age of 14 when he was coerced into bonded labour. Pintu's account of his experience is chilling: "I was forced into being a bonded labourer. They would make me carry heavy loads. When I said it was too heavy, they would abuse and hurt me. They had locked me up and forced me to work. I had no freedom. I was a slave."
There are many like Pintu. Some children are trafficked, while others are sent off by parents who are extremely poor and have no other means to raise their children.
Mohammed Ullah's decision to send his 14-year-old son, Sakib, to work in a factory resulted in unforeseen consequences when Sakib was forced into slavery in Bihar. Reflecting on his decision, Ullah expressed the economic desperation that led to this grave situation: "Hum majdoor hain. Hum majboor the. Hum gareeb hain" — "I am a labourer. I was helpless. I am poor."
Similarly, 24-year-old Lukas Lomga from Simdega in Jharkhand shares a painful recount of his childhood ensnared in bonded labour. Forced into this brutal reality at just 12 years old, Lukas was trafficked to various cities including Delhi and Jaipur for bonded labour. "Until I was finally rescued, as a child I was trafficked to many places. I had no freedom. My employers would beat me. I would be abused. My entire childhood went off in being a bonded labourer," Lukas recounts.
Law Exists Only on Paper, Lacking Implementation
The Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act of 1976 marked a significant legislative stride towards eradicating bonded labour in India by freeing all bonded labourers and annulling their debts, making the practice a cognisable offence under the law.
In an effort to bolster these efforts, the Ministry of Labour introduced a Centrally Sponsored Scheme in May 1978, aimed at assisting state governments in the rehabilitation of liberated bonded labourers. This scheme has undergone several revisions, the most notable being in 2016 when it was renamed the "Central Sector Scheme for Rehabilitation of Bonded Labourer – 2016," with further modifications in January 2022.
Despite these legal frameworks and schemes, Gorana points out critical shortcomings in the execution of these programs. "Rehabilitation packages often do not reach the affected victims," he asserts. He also challenges the authenticity of the government's statistics regarding the issue, labelling them as "not factual and a big lie."
"The freed bonded labourers receive a release certificate, and only upon acquiring this certificate can they access the rehabilitation package. Depending on their gender and circumstances, rescued bonded labourers are entitled to compensation amounts ranging from 1 lakh to 3 lakh rupees. However, the major issue is the difficulty in obtaining the release certificate. Even those who obtain it may not receive the promised funds. The implementation of the rehabilitation package is severely flawed, leading to discrepancies between the government's reported achievements and the reality on the ground, with much of the data purportedly manipulated," asserts Gorana.
Onkar Sharma, Chief Labour Commissioner at the Ministry of Labour and Employment, acknowledges the legal framework in place to combat bonded labour: "We have the law in place. We are trying our best to enforce the law and we also have rehabilitation packages."
However, when questioned about the difficulties rescued victims face in obtaining justice, including securing release certificates and accessing rehabilitation packages, he points to the responsibilities of the state governments: "This law is to be enforced by the state governments. After they get the release certificates, it is through the District Collector and state government that the rescued victims can access the central government’s rehabilitation package. If the bonded labourers are not getting justice then they can always approach us."
Although the government maintains that state authorities should enforce existing laws and assist victims, the reality is that rescued bonded labourers, among the poorest in society, often do not know whom to approach for help. Merely shifting responsibility is not a solution. The law and justice system must extend its reach to support these oppressed individuals. They should not have to endure the confusion and helplessness of seeking assistance from multiple sources, particularly as many of these victims are not only unaware of their rights but also find themselves in desperate situations.
At The Probe, our commitment to social impact journalism is at the core of everything we do. Funded by well-meaning individuals from the public, our aim is to drive positive social change and make a real-world impact through the stories we report.
If you wish to support us, please visit our Truth Brigade page and contribute to a cause that resonates with you the most. It is through your support that we have been able to keep the flame of our journalism alive in these difficult times. Click link to support us to make a difference: https://theprobe.in/truth-brigade
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