Enacted in February 1976, the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act (BLSA) marked an important milestone in equality in the Indian society.
Constitutional and Legal Framework against Bonded Labour
- Constitutional: Articles 21, 23, and 24 of the Indian Constitution protect against bonded labour.
- Legal: The BLSA, 1976 abolishes the system, while Section 143 of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 penalizes trafficking and forced labour.
Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976
- Completely abolished the bonded labour system and declared all forms of bonded labour illegal.
- Cancelled all existing bonded debts and mandated immediate release and freedom of all bonded labourers.
- Protection from eviction of freed bonded labourers from lands they occupied.
- District-level enforcement by District Magistrates and Vigilance Committees to identify, release, and rehabilitate bonded labourers.
- Rehabilitation, through Central and State-level programmes, offering financial assistance, land, housing, and livelihood support.
- Rescue operations through periodic surveys and rescue drives that have identified and released lakhs of bonded labourers over decades.
Why Does Bonded Labour Persist?
- Persistent poverty, lack of formal contracts and weak regulation in the informal sector enable exploitative work.
- Caste hierarchies and discrimination mean SC/ST communities are disproportionately affected.
- Data shows only ~300,000 freed/rehabilitated since 1978, indicating gaps in enforcement.
- Low conviction rates and a lack of a victim-centric approach fails to act as a deterrent.
Conclusion
A coordinated strategy combining legal reforms, robust monitoring, rehabilitation support, and social awareness is essential to eradicate bonded labour. Sustained political will and community participation will be the true determinants of lasting change.
