**Executive Summary**
This document contains the Ministry of Labour & Employment's response to Unstarred Question No. 175 in the Lok Sabha, concerning schemes for bonded labourers, scheduled for answer on December 1, 2025. It details the Central Sector Scheme for the rehabilitation of bonded labourers, including financial assistance provided and responsibilities of state governments to constitute Vigilance Committees. Annexed is a summary of rehabilitation assistance provided from 2022-23 to November 25, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Central Sector Scheme for Rehabilitation:**
* The Ministry of Labour & Employment is implementing a Central Sector Scheme for the Rehabilitation of Bonded Labourers.
* The scheme focuses on identification and rehabilitation.
* **Financial Assistance:**
* Rehabilitation assistance of Rs. 1.00 lakh, Rs. 2.00 lakh, and Rs. 3.00 lakh is provided to each rescued bonded laborer, based on their category and level of exploitation.
* Immediate financial assistance up to Rs. 30,000/- is available to each rescued bonded laborer.
* **Vigilance Committees:**
* The Bonded Labour Act, 1976, mandates State Governments to constitute Vigilance Committees.
* Each State Government must establish Vigilance Committees in each district and Sub-Division via official notification.
* These committees are responsible for the economic and social rehabilitation of freed bonded labourers.
* **Rehabilitation Statistics (2022-23 to 2025-26):**
* Details are annexed, showing the number of bonded laborers rescued & rehabilitated and the amount of rehabilitation assistance released state-wise up to November 25, 2025.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder**: Ministry of Labour & Employment
**Impact**: Responsible for the Central Sector Scheme's implementation, including financial assistance disbursement and oversight of state government actions regarding Vigilance Committees.
**Action Required**: Continue implementing the rehabilitation scheme and monitor state government compliance with the Bonded Labour Act, 1976.
**Stakeholder**: State Governments
**Impact**: Required to constitute Vigilance Committees and oversee the rehabilitation of freed bonded laborers within their jurisdiction.
**Action Required**: Establish and maintain functional Vigilance Committees in each district and Sub-Division, as per the Bonded Labour Act, 1976, and ensure the effective economic and social rehabilitation of freed bonded labourers.
**Stakeholder**: Bonded Labourers
**Impact**: Beneficiaries of the scheme, receiving financial assistance and support for their rehabilitation.
**Action Required**: Engage with the scheme and relevant authorities (including Vigilance Committees) to access available support and rehabilitation services.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Labour & Employment: The central ministry responsible for implementing the scheme for rehabilitation of bonded labourers.
Rehabilitation of Bonded Labourer: A Central Sector Scheme for identification and rehabilitation of bonded labourers.
Bonded Labour Act, 1976: The Act providing for the constitution of Vigilance Committees by State Governments for the rehabilitation of freed bonded laborers.
Vigilance Committee: Committees established by State Governments in each district and sub-division to oversee the economic and social rehabilitation of freed bonded labourers, as per the Bonded Labour Act, 1976.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 175
TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.12.2025
SCHEMES FOR BONDED LABOURERS
†175. SHRI ARUN KUMAR SAGAR:
Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to
state:
(a)the details of the estimated number of bonded labourers,
especially in backward and rural areas of the country, State/UT-
wise;
(b)whether the Government has prepared or proposed any plan for
liberation and rehabilitation of bonded labourers and if so, the
details thereof;
(c)the details of the number of bonded labourers
liberated/rehabilitated so far in the country, State/UT-wise;
(d)whether any assistance has been provided by the Government for
the said purpose during the last three years and the current year,
year-wise, especially in backward and rural areas of the country
and if so, the details thereof, State-wise;
(e)whether any committee has been constituted or proposed to be
constituted by the Government for the purpose of tracing, liberating
and rehabilitating the bonded labourers; and
(f)if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)
(a) to (f): The Ministry of Labour & Employment has been
implementing a Central Sector Scheme viz. Rehabilitation of Bonded
Labourer for identification and rehabilitation of bonded labourers.
Under the Scheme, rehabilitation assistance to the tune of Rs. 1.00
lakh, Rs. 2.00 lakh and Rs. 3.00 lakh are provided to each rescued
bonded labourer based on their category and level of exploitation.
Besides, there is a provision to provide immediate financial
assistance upto Rs. 30,000/- to each rescued bonded labour. The
details of number of bonded labourers rescued & rehabilitated and
details of rehabilitation amount released during 2022-23 to 2025-26,
State-wise, (upto 25.11.2025) is annexed.
Contd..2/-:: 2 ::
Under the Bonded Labour Act, 1976, there is a provision of
constitution of Vigilance Committee by State Government. Every
State Government shall, by notification in the Official Gazette,
constitute such number of Vigilance Committees in each district and
each Sub-Division as it may think fit. The vigilance committee is
responsible for providing economic and social rehabilitation to the
freed bonded labourers.
* *****Annexure-
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) to (f) OF LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 175 FOR 01.12.2025 BY SHRI ARUN KUMAR SAGAR
REGARDING SCHEMES FOR BONDED LABOURERS:
Sl. Year Name of No. of bonded labourer to whom Amount of Immediate
No. State/UT Immediate Financial/ Final Financial/Final
Rehabilitation Assistance has Rehabilitation
been provided Assistance provided to
bonded labourers (in Rs.
lakh)
1. 2022-23 Rajasthan 70 14.00
Uttar Pradesh 287 390.20
Tamil Nadu 297 59.40
2. 2023-24 Rajasthan 56 11.20
Tamil Nadu 176 56.80
Chhattisgarh 76 15.20
Pondicherry 5 15.00
Odisha 155 15.50
Rajasthan 50 10.00
3. 2024-25
Tamil Nadu 196 57.40
2025-26 Tamil Nadu 41 19.30
4. (as on
25.11.2025)
*****