CONTENTS

A. Human Rights

B. National Human Rights Institutions

C. The UN Human Rights System

D. The UN Human Rights Conventions

E. Human Rights Education

Forward

Elimination of bonded labour from our country has now become one of the most important concerns. Our Constitution (Art.23 & 24) has given us a clear mandate for the elimination of forced labour and child labour. India has been a major signatory to International Conventions on Bonded Labour and Child Labour. The International Labour Conference adopted an ILO Convention on forced labour (No.29) at the fourteenth session of the ILC held in June, 1931. Twenty three years later, India ratified this Convention and 22 years after ratification, a law captioned Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act was passed by both Houses of Parliament in February, 1976 but given effect from 24th October, 1975, the date when Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Ordinance was promulgated. Any person who was a bonded labourer on 24th October, 1975 stood freed and discharged from any obligation to render bonded service and repay bonded debt w.e.f. this date.
Inspite of a clear mandate from our Constitution,we still have a large number of people working as bonded labourers. Government has initiated a number of steps to tackle this issue.
This booklet is an effort in dealing with the two most important issues in the elimination of bonded labour i.e. enforcement of bonded labour laws and rehabilitation of labourers released from bondage.

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Appendix

What are your legal rights? Know your rights and defend them!

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