Essays

The evil practice of bonded labour has been in Existence in many states in India from time immemorial.   It continued for many years even after Indian independence. It was formally abolished by government through i the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976.

Indian villages have a number of people who are oppressed and exploited—the backward classes, landless Labourers, poor farmers. But the condition of bonded Labourers is worse. They are made to live the life of slaves throughout their lives. It is indeed surprising that this  System  of slavery is yet in operation reportedly in interior  Of states  like Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka,  Kerala,  MP, Maharashtra, Orissa, Rajasthan, Tamil  Nadu, up,  and Haryana.

Under this system, any person who took a loan from  A landlord  or moneylender had to render free labour to  The credit  till the amount of loan with interest thereon  Was cleared. If the debtor died before repaying, his Progeny were bound to the same terms. The system of bonded labour is an inhuman system. By taking a loan the bonded labourer had to forego his freedom of Employment He lost his right of free movement. He could not sell his property or labour at market value. It appears this system was backed by some local vested interests and tradition. It was mostly in vogue in tribal and backward areas.

The - system of bonded labour was a barbarous system.  Thus it had to go. The Government of India issued the Bonded. Labour Abolition Ordinance in October 1975. The Ordinance has since become an Act. Under the Act, the sad Evil institution of slavery stands abolished by law.

The Act goes to the extent of providing that every Bonded labour, who has been detained in civil prison whether before or after judgment, shall be released Immediately. No person thus freed and discharged shall be evicted from his place of residence. Even the liability to repay the bonded debt ends. Bonded labourers have Been rehabilitated either under the centrally-sponsored Scheme or under the ongoing schemes of state Governments.

The main reason why this pernicious system o bonded labour continued all these year even after Independence is that these labourers were illiteratd unorganized and very poor. The Central Government I continuously monitoring the programme of identification release and rehabilitation of bonded labourers so that once they are free, they do not fall into the trap again in pockets here and there. The bonded live below the poverty line.

In fact, the system of bonded labour is soon fated t(l fade out with the removal of illiteracy and poverty from the land.

Facts

Article 23 of Indian Constitution prohibits the practice of forced or bonded labour in the following manner:

Prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labour :

1. Traffic in human beings and begar and other similar forms of forced labour are prohibited and any contravention of this provision shall be an offence punishable in accordance with law.

2. Nothing in this article shall prevent the State from imposing compulsory service for public purposes, and in imposing such .service, the State shall not make any discrimination on grounds only of religion, race, caste or class or any of them.