The Hindu Editorial Analysis- 1st May 2025 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

India’s Shame: The Trap of Bonded Labour

Why in News?

Bonded labour, a form of modern slavery, remains a grim reality for many in India despite the country’s economic growth. On International Labour Day, while the world celebrates workers’ rights, the plight of millions trapped in bonded labour underscores the harsh truths behind India’s progress. 

 This article delves into the tragic stories of survivors, the causes of bonded labour, the challenges in eradicating it, and the stark ground reality faced by unorganised workers, particularly migrants. 

Real-Life Stories

• Mukesh Adivasi (Madhya Pradesh). In 2023, Mukesh and his family were trafficked 1,400 km from Madhya Pradesh to Karnataka, where they were forced into bonded labour on a sugarcane farm. Despite working long hours, Mukesh faced brutal violence when demanding wages, resulting in a shattered leg. He was rescued by the police but continues to suffer from emotional and physical trauma. 
• K. Thenmozhi (Andhra Pradesh). At the age of 13, Thenmozhi and her family took an advance for work in a Bengaluru brick kiln, only to be subjected to 12-14 hours of forced labour and abuse. They managed to escape, but the scars of the experience remain with them. 

Bonded Labour: Causes and Structural Roots

• Immediate Triggers. Events such as medical emergencies, religious ceremonies, dowries, food shortages, or sudden loss of income push impoverished families to take loans or advances from employers, leading to exploitation. 
• Structural Causes. Factors like caste, ethnic and religious discrimination, social exclusion, illiteracy, lack of legal aid, and employer monopolies on credit and labour markets create an environment conducive to exploitation. These issues transform what should be a simple economic transaction into a system of coercion and control, perpetuating modern-day slavery. 

Bonded Labour in India: Progress and Challenges

• Abolition of Bonded Labour. Bonded labour was officially abolished in India in 1975. 
• Government’s 2016 Plan. The government announced a plan to release 1.84 crore bonded labourers by 2030. However, progress has been slow, with only 12,760 individuals rescued between 2016 and 2021. To meet the 2030 target, approximately 11 lakh labourers would need to be rescued annually, which appears overly optimistic given current trends. 
• Unorganised Labour. Of the 47 crore total workers in India, 39 crore are employed in the unorganised sector, including migrants who endure forced labour. The International Labour Organisation’s 2024 report highlighted that low-quality jobs dominate India’s workforce. 

The Ground Reality

• Vulnerability of Unorganised Workers. Unorganised workers, especially migrants, lack unionisation and the protection of collective bargaining. They face exploitative conditions, no formal contracts, and the constant threat of arbitrary dismissal. 
• Impact of Labour Codes. The Labour Codes of 2019-20 have weakened workers’ rights, prioritising profit over people, and making workers more vulnerable to exploitation. 
• Systemic Abuse. Investigations into forced labour in Indian industries since 2022 have revealed that the country’s economic growth is built on the exploitation of vulnerable populations. Migrant workers, displaced by climate change and poverty, face low wages, precarious work, and threats of dismissal, perpetuating modern slavery. 

Conclusion

 The stories of Mukesh Adivasi and K. Thenmozhi, along with the structural roots and challenges of bonded labour, highlight the urgent need for action. Despite the official abolition of bonded labour and government plans for rescue, the reality remains stark. India’s economic growth, marked by the exploitation of the most vulnerable, calls for a reevaluation of priorities, ensuring that profit does not come at the expense of human dignity and rights.