The Rehabilitation of Bonded Labourer Scheme is a central government initiative in India aimed at the welfare and rehabilitation of individuals rescued from bonded labor.  

Key elements of this scheme include:

• It is a Central Sector Scheme implemented by the Ministry of Labour & Employment.
• Immediate financial assistance of Rs. 30,000 is provided to rescued bonded labourers by the District Administration.
• Rehabilitation assistance is given based on beneficiary categories:

1. Rs. 1 lakh for adult male beneficiaries.
2. Rs. 2 lakh for special categories such as women, children (including orphans and those rescued from forced child labour or begging rings).
3. Rs. 3 lakh in cases involving extreme deprivation or marginalization, such as transgenders, victims of sexual exploitation, trafficking, or differently abled persons.

• The scheme is 100% funded by the Central Government, and the funds are reimbursed to States/Union Territories.
• There is a provision for financial assistance to States for conducting surveys of bonded labourers, awareness generation, and evaluatory studies.
• States are required to create a Bonded Labour Rehabilitation Fund at the district level with a permanent corpus of at least Rs. 10 lakh for immediate assistance to released bonded labourers.
• The scheme is demand-driven and linked to the conviction of offenders, but immediate assistance is given regardless of conviction status to help rescued labourers.
• Technological measures are being introduced, including a centralized digital database for rescued labourers linked with Aadhaar, a 24x7 toll-free helpline, and a mobile app for anonymous reporting of bonded labour cases.
• Rehabilitation packages include measures like education, psycho-social counseling, skill development, and support for marriage in the case of women.
• Vigilance Committees at district and sub-division levels advise the administration and oversee implementation.
• Workshops and training sessions on the provisions, challenges, and prospects of bonded labour rehabilitation continue to be organized to improve awareness and implementation.

Overall, while the scheme has been updated and enhanced, actual rehabilitation outcomes show a slowdown and highlight the need for improved administrative efficiency, surveillance, and proactive funding utilization to meet long-term goals. The government also stresses the abolition of bonded labour as a continuous process requiring coordinated state and central efforts.

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