Labour Ministry draws flak from its minister on bonded labour

Minister also lamented lack of budgetary support to tackle the issue

The Labour Ministry today drew flak from its minister "for not doing anything concrete" or "seriously" to eradicate the problem of bonded labour.

Minister of state for labour and employment Kodikunnil Suresh, while hitting out at his ministry, also lamented lack of budgetary support to tackle the issue.

"I don't think the ministry of Labour and Employment is doing anything concrete on a large scale for the eradication of the problem. The note given by them does not even reflect the number of people under bondage. The department is not taking this activity seriously," he said during a function organised by International Labour Organisation jointly with the ministry.

Ruing lack of budgetary support which hampers functioning of his department, the minister also suggested involvement of Social Justice and Empowerment and Tribal Affairs ministries in a big way to address the issue.

He regretted that the vigilance committees, which are empowered with roles to advise the district magistrates and ensure that laws are properly implemented, have either not been constituted or are "dysfunctional" in many districts.

"There needs to be proper constitution and functioning of vigilance committees in each district and sub-district for pro-active combating of this problem. But in majority of districts, it is dysfunctional.

"At district level, there is no nodal officers in charge of bonded labour. District collectors should be oriented periodically on this issue at least once a year," Suresh added.

Citing the Supreme Court judgement on October 15, 2012, the minister said that the court had emphasised the need for surveys to be conducted in each state.

"Unfortunately, it is not happening effectively. A survey on the issue is an imperative tool that can be used to liberate the oppressed," Suresh said.

He pointed out that the existing rehabilitation amount of Rs 20,000 also needs to be seriously considered yet again.

"We must seriously consider if the existing rehabilitation amount is properly indexed to inflation and whether it can place these freed bonded labourers with the adequate support," the minister said.