Workshop on Bonded Labour and Child Labour in Karnataka
The Commission organized a two-day sensitization Workshop on bonded labour and child labour for field-level functionaries of Karnataka on 9 - 10 October 2003 in Bangalore in collaboration with the concerned departments in the Government of Karnataka.
Inaugurating the workshop, the Chairperson, Dr. Justice A.S. Anand pointed out that bonded labour existed in 17 States in the country although more than a quarter century had passed after the enactment of the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976. He called upon the State Governments to display the necessary political will to eradicate bonded labour and child labour so that within the next three or four years they became a part of history. Speaking on the strategies required, the Chairperson stressed the importance of the State Government providing the district administration funds for rehabilitation in advance so that there was no time lag between release and rehabilitation. He emphasized that the objective of rehabilitation and the manner of implementation of rehabilitation measures should be such that the rehabilitated bonded labour families never slipped back into bondage. He wanted clear-cut and specific instructions on all these points issued to the district administration by the State Government.
Shri M. Mallikarjuna Kharge, Minister for Home Affairs, Government of Karnataka presided over the inaugural function and delivered the Presidential address. Shri Qamarul Islam, Minister for Labour, Government of Karnataka spoke on the occasion and gave his message to the Workshop.
The relevant legislations and case law, the working of centrally sponsored schemes, future plan of action and road map on child labour and convergence of schemes were taken up for in-depth discussion. In addition, there was a panel discussion on these aspects by NGOs followed by feedback from field functionaries. Shri K. R. Venugopal, Special Rapporteur, NHRC anchored all the Sessions and steered the deliberations. A set of 29 action points has emerged out of the deliberations of the workshop which include
§ Deputy Commissioners would be the centre of convergence efforts in regard to all action relating to bonded labour and child labour work. In order to achieve convergence in this as well as in all other areas pertaining to bonded labour and child labour issues, a Committee consisting of the Deputy Commissioner, Zilla Panchayat Adyaksha and CEO of the Zilla Panchayat would be set up with the Deputy Commissioner as the Chairperson.
§ The NGOs would be entrusted with the task of participating in the design and monitoring of the schemes relating to identification and rehabilitation of released bonded labour and child labour families, with appropriate funding to discharge this task.
§ Capacity building for all the three levels of the Panchayat functionaries, both elected and official, at all levels below the sub-division.
§ The strategy of financing rehabilitation would be governed by the principle that the loan component should be minimal. Keeping this principle in view, the State Level Bankers Committee would work out a credible credit package.
§ The NABARD would provide a plan as to how the Regional Rural Banks could help more positively in the rehabilitation of bonded labour and child labour families.
§ The need for additional primary schools and hostels for purposes of the educational rehabilitation of released child labour should be determined.
§ Prosecution should invariably be launched in all cases of the more severe cases of bondage and pursued vigourously so as to affirm and publicize the determination of the Government, as a policy, to weed out bonded labour practices.
§ The State Government would draw up a pension scheme for released bonded labourers to support them for the period during which the formulation of rehabilitation measures is in progress so that the possibility of slipping back into bondage through new debts is eliminated.
§ Sensitization of identified and released bonded and child labour families in regard to their rights under the law and duties, and skills to work their programmes in an organized, self-reliant, group-based, cooperative mode should precede and continue to accompany all rehabilitation measures.
Field level functionaries of Karnataka viz. the Deputy Commissioners, Chief Executive officers of Zilla Panchayats, Zilla Panchayat Adhyakshas, other Zilla Panchayat functionaries, NGOs, officers of the Labour Department and Police Department and the Banking sector participated in the workshop.
Inaugurating the workshop, the Chairperson, Dr. Justice A.S. Anand pointed out that bonded labour existed in 17 States in the country although more than a quarter century had passed after the enactment of the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976. He called upon the State Governments to display the necessary political will to eradicate bonded labour and child labour so that within the next three or four years they became a part of history. Speaking on the strategies required, the Chairperson stressed the importance of the State Government providing the district administration funds for rehabilitation in advance so that there was no time lag between release and rehabilitation. He emphasized that the objective of rehabilitation and the manner of implementation of rehabilitation measures should be such that the rehabilitated bonded labour families never slipped back into bondage. He wanted clear-cut and specific instructions on all these points issued to the district administration by the State Government.
Shri M. Mallikarjuna Kharge, Minister for Home Affairs, Government of Karnataka presided over the inaugural function and delivered the Presidential address. Shri Qamarul Islam, Minister for Labour, Government of Karnataka spoke on the occasion and gave his message to the Workshop.
The relevant legislations and case law, the working of centrally sponsored schemes, future plan of action and road map on child labour and convergence of schemes were taken up for in-depth discussion. In addition, there was a panel discussion on these aspects by NGOs followed by feedback from field functionaries. Shri K. R. Venugopal, Special Rapporteur, NHRC anchored all the Sessions and steered the deliberations. A set of 29 action points has emerged out of the deliberations of the workshop which include
§ Deputy Commissioners would be the centre of convergence efforts in regard to all action relating to bonded labour and child labour work. In order to achieve convergence in this as well as in all other areas pertaining to bonded labour and child labour issues, a Committee consisting of the Deputy Commissioner, Zilla Panchayat Adyaksha and CEO of the Zilla Panchayat would be set up with the Deputy Commissioner as the Chairperson.
§ The NGOs would be entrusted with the task of participating in the design and monitoring of the schemes relating to identification and rehabilitation of released bonded labour and child labour families, with appropriate funding to discharge this task.
§ Capacity building for all the three levels of the Panchayat functionaries, both elected and official, at all levels below the sub-division.
§ The strategy of financing rehabilitation would be governed by the principle that the loan component should be minimal. Keeping this principle in view, the State Level Bankers Committee would work out a credible credit package.
§ The NABARD would provide a plan as to how the Regional Rural Banks could help more positively in the rehabilitation of bonded labour and child labour families.
§ The need for additional primary schools and hostels for purposes of the educational rehabilitation of released child labour should be determined.
§ Prosecution should invariably be launched in all cases of the more severe cases of bondage and pursued vigourously so as to affirm and publicize the determination of the Government, as a policy, to weed out bonded labour practices.
§ The State Government would draw up a pension scheme for released bonded labourers to support them for the period during which the formulation of rehabilitation measures is in progress so that the possibility of slipping back into bondage through new debts is eliminated.
§ Sensitization of identified and released bonded and child labour families in regard to their rights under the law and duties, and skills to work their programmes in an organized, self-reliant, group-based, cooperative mode should precede and continue to accompany all rehabilitation measures.
Field level functionaries of Karnataka viz. the Deputy Commissioners, Chief Executive officers of Zilla Panchayats, Zilla Panchayat Adhyakshas, other Zilla Panchayat functionaries, NGOs, officers of the Labour Department and Police Department and the Banking sector participated in the workshop.