Munmun Kaur-
Published On: December 15, 2021 at 15:21 IST
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on December 14, issued a fresh advisory on the menace of bonded labour. In order to avoid delay, the Commission gave the recommendation of delinking of the release of relief packages to the Victims from the Criminal proceedings as the Victim is not associated with Trial.
NHRC in its advisory stated that, State and District level functionaries should not limit their focus to brick kilns but also attend to fields in which bonded labour has taken new forms like construction, call centers, massage parlors, etc. so that relief can be provided as per the existing Act.
Another suggestion was for the District administration to provide food and safe transportation to the Victims of bonded labour and in case of non-cash assistance, benefits available under CSS-2016 are given to the families of released labour E.g.: – Allotment of the house site, wage employment, education to children, etc.
The NHRC also asked the State Governments to identify the households that are more prone to bonded labour due to their vulnerable conditions and provide them with free ration, health care, etc. so as to prevent bonded labour.
The advisory also state that in case the Victim of bonded labour belongs to SC or ST caste then besides invoking the provisions of the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, the provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 shall also be invoked.
NHRC, in a letter to the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment and the chief secretaries of the States, has asked its recommendations to be implemented and a report to be filed in the next 90 days.
Also Read- Section 79 to 82 of Code of Civil Procedure, 1908