RIGHTS OF THE VULNERABLE : 81
should be increased, and suggested appropriate legal measures to deal with cases of
wanton neglect of duty. A copy of the report of the Expert Group has been transmitted
to the Supreme Court.
Specific Case
8.13 To illustrate the nature of the actions being taken by the Commission, the facts
are given below of a specific case involving the detection and release of 85 bonded
labourers from the stone quarries of Banghat, Ganj Basoda, District Vidlsha in
Madhya Pradesh in December 2000. The credit for the detection goes to Shrl
Raghunath Vivek Pandit, Director, SAMARTHAN, a Mumbai-based NGO and Swaml
Agnlvesh, President, Bonded Labour Liberation Front, Delhi. Shri Vivek Pandit visited
Gan] Basoda alongwlth some members of a localNGO and, with the help of the district
administration got 85 bonded labourers released from 4 stone quarries. This was later
verified by the Commission's investigation team which visited ATidlsha from 10 - 12
January 2001. Although the release certificates were issued promptly andinterim relief
of Rs.1,000 to each labourer was also arranged by the district administration, the
rehabilitation of the released labourers imder the Centrally Sponsored Scheme was
proceeding slowly. On receipt of a request fi:om Swaml Agnlvesh, Shri Chaman Lai,
Special Rapporteur, was dispatched to Bhopal and Vidisha to get their rehabilitation
expedited. He succeeded in ensuring the rehabilitation of 42 out of the total of 85
labourers. The matter was then discussedin a special review meeting conducted by Dr
Justice K. Ramaswamy in Bhopal on 26 April 2002.15 out of the 85 released labourers
were migrant labourers and action for their rehabilitation, was, thereafter, initiated
through their respective States, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand; 52 of the remaining 70
have since received the full rehabilitation grant due to them under the Centrally
Sponsored Scheme. The rehabilitation of the remaining 28 is dso being monitored. In
addition to getting a financial package of Rs.20,000 each, the released labourers
belonging to Madhya Pradesh are also entitled to receive a grant of Rs.25,000 under
the SC/ST Act, 20 per cent of which is to be paid on the registration of the FIR. 33
labourers had actually received this amount until the date of review.
2)
Child Labour
8.14 The Special Rapporteur, Shri Chaman Lai, remained actively involved in
monitoring the enforcement of the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act,
ANNUAL REPORT 2001 -2002