Evaluation of Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Rehabilitation of Bonded Labour

Abstract

The Government of India passed the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act in 1976. Efforts were thereafter initiated for identification, release and rehabilitation of bonded labour in different States. A Centrally Sponsored Scheme for rehabilitation of the freed bonded labourers was started in 1978-79. The scheme provided for matching grant assistance from the centre to the extent of 50 per cent of the total cost which was fixed at Rs. 4000 per bonded labourer. 2. The rehabilitation of the,..bonded labour has been included as one of the improtant items in the 20 Point Programme. This programme for economic upliftment and rehabilitation of bonded labour needed systematically to be followed up so as to ensure that there was no relapse into bondage in due course. The Ministry of Labour, therefore, requested the Programme Evaluation Organisation of the Planning Commission during February, 1979 to conduct urgently an evaluation study. 3. The main objective of the study was to find out the extent to which the aims of the scheme to identify, free and rehabilitate the bonded labour have been fulfilled with particular reference to : (a) the administrative arrangements made at various levels for the implementation of the schemes to identify, release and rehabilitate the freed bonded labour ; (b) The detailed contents of the various schemes and the extent to which they . have been implemented.