The Odisha government instructed 11 district collectors to report on aid provided to 2,411 bonded labourers rescued since 2016-17. The directive followed a Supreme Court order urging states to address inter-state trafficking and ensure simplified procedures for financial assistance under the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976. Despite central schemes increasing aid to ₹1–3 lakh since 2017, delays persist due to official apathy, procedural hurdles, and poor documentation. Recently, 63 labourers rescued in 2010-11 received ₹20,000 under outdated schemes. Experts highlighted issues like inactive bank accounts and language barriers hampering aid distribution. Cases of distress migration, including child labor linked to family debts, underscored the inadequacy of welfare programs like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in addressing economic vulnerabilities in Odisha’s districts. |
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