Govt revising scheme for rehabilitation of bonded labour: Dattatreya

Labour and Employment Minister Bandaru Dattatreya has said the Government is revising the scheme for rehabilitation of bonded labour and increasing the quantum of financial assistance. Speaking about the proposed scheme in New Delhi yesterday, the Minister said, the government will increase the annual budgetary provision of 5 crore rupees to nearly 47 crore rupees. He said,the scheme aims at addressing new forms of bondage such as organised begging rings, forced prostitution and child labour. 

He said, the most deprived and marginalised like the disabled, female and children rescued from trafficking, sexual exploitation and transgender will now get 3 lakhs rupees under the scheme. Females and minors who fall in special



category will get 2 lakh rupees and normal adult male bonded labour will get an assistance of one lakh rupees. The Minister said, the rehabilitation work has been made simple for the District Magistrates. 

He said, a permanent and renewable district level rehabilitation fund of 10 Lakh rupees will be available with the District Magistrate which will be used as a stop-gap arrangement before reimbursement by Central Government through the Direct Benefits Transfer system. An official release said,after revising the scheme, the rules will be amended for effective implementation. The Government will ensure that Bonded Labour cases are tried and judgment pronounced on the same day like other summary trial cases.