In a significant move, the Supreme Court of India on Thursday mandated the central government to convene a meeting with all state and union territory governments to devise a comprehensive strategy to combat inter-state trafficking of bonded labourers, including minors. Justices B.R. Gavai and K.V. Viswanathan, presiding over the case, expressed concern over the alarming statistics revealed during the proceedings, particularly noting that out of 5,264 bonded labourers released in Uttar Pradesh, only 1,101 received immediate financial aid.
The court highlighted the urgent need for a unified approach to tackle this pervasive issue, especially the challenges in disbursing immediate financial assistance to rescued minors who are often trafficked across state lines into bonded labour. The apex court was responding to a plea that called for the enforcement of fundamental rights for individuals trafficked as bonded labourers.
The directive issued to the Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment involves creating a simplified procedure for the scheme of providing immediate financial aid to rescued child labourers. The Supreme Court has also sought the assistance of the Attorney General in this matter, emphasizing the gravity and importance of resolving this social evil effectively.
Additionally, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is to be involved in the finalization of the procedure, ensuring that human rights perspectives are integrated into the proposed solutions.
This judicial intervention underscores the critical gaps in current practices concerning the rescue and rehabilitation of bonded labourers. During the hearing, it was revealed that a significant number of released labourers in Uttar Pradesh had not received the necessary financial support, prompting the court to question the effectiveness of existing mechanisms to prevent bonded labour, particularly in an inter-state context.
The court also proposed the idea of developing a digital portal similar to those used for tracking missing children, suggesting that modern technology be leveraged to streamline and enhance the tracking and support of bonded labourers.
