Bonded labour still exists, admits Ramesh

Bonded labour exists in India almost four decades after a law abolishing the practice was passed, Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh said Thursday.

"I don't think we can say that we have abolished bonded labour. While it may be true on paper and we have laws on it but we haven't managed to finish it," Ramesh said here.

Reports of bonded labourers keep surfacing even now though the practice was abolished in 1976.

Ramesh attributed the continuance of bonded labour to distress internal migration. He contended the Aadhaar card could improve the situation by providing identity and financial inclusion to such migrants.

"The Aadhar card will help internal migrants in getting their rights. It is a positive step that will give them identification and will lead to their financial inclusion," he said.