Delay in financial assistance to rescued child laborers and bonded laborers, Supreme Court expressed displeasure

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has expressed displeasure over not releasing immediate financial assistance to the rescued bonded labourers. The Supreme Court has asked the Central Government to hold a meeting with the states and union territories and prepare a proposal regarding the issue of inter-state human trafficking and providing immediate financial assistance to rescued child labourers.

Supreme Court expressed concern over the situation in UP

A Supreme Court bench led by Justice BR Gavai expressed concern over the situation in UP while hearing the case. The court said that the figures of UP are very serious. Out of total 5262 freed bonded laborers, only 1101 have been given immediate financial assistance. Still 4167 laborers are still waiting for help. The Supreme Court has said that the issue of inter-state child trafficking needs to be addressed jointly by the Center and all the states. The top court has said that we direct the Secretary, Ministry of Labor and Employment, to hold a meeting with his/her counterparts of all the states and union territories and prepare a proposal to resolve the issue which includes inter-state human trafficking and release There is a need to decide on a simple procedure for issuing certificates as well as financial assistance to rescued child labourers. Also, the court has said that NHRC should be included in this process.

Bihar report cited

Advocate Abhishek Jebaraj, appearing for the petitioners, argued that general guidelines should be issued in such cases so that there is no delay in financial assistance. Citing the situation report of Bihar, he/she said that in 2016, the District Magistrate of Gaya (Bihar) had requested the District Magistrate of Hardoi (UP) to provide release certificates in the correct format for 126 bonded laborers who had not been released till now. Didn’t happen. During this, the Supreme Court commented on the serious situation in UP and said that 4167 people in your state have not yet received financial assistance. During this, petitioner’s lawyer Jebraj said that a survey should be conducted to identify bonded laborers in the state. Senior advocate HS Phoolka, appearing for NHRC, has argued that the SOP was prepared in 2017 but has not been implemented. According to SOP, the investigation should be completed within three months but 11,000 rescued children have not yet received financial assistance.