NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, INDIA 9.6 The Commission, through its Members and Special Rapporteurs, records and assesses the performance of major bonded labour prone States/UTs with regard to pace and progress of implementation of BLSAA-1976 and Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS). Such reviews have been repeated in some States considering their performance. The State Governments have been taken to confidence both before and in course of the review, and the reviews have been fully participative in as much as prior to the review; the response of the State Governments has been elicited to a set of specific questions posed through a detailed questionnaire circulated sufficiently in advance. A. National Seminar on Elimination of Bonded Labour System 9.7 With an aim to review the action of States/UTs on the implementation of bonded labour rehabilitation scheme and to establish conceptual clarity about strategy of identification, release and rehabilitation of bonded labourers, the Commission held a National Seminar on Elimination of Bonded Labour System on 8th November, 2019 at New Delhi. 9.8 The seminar was inaugurated by Justice Shri H.L. Dattu, Hon’ble Chairperson, NHRC and Justice Shri P.C. Pant, Hon’ble Member NHRC. Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Hon’ble Minister of State for Labour and Employment (Independent Charge), Government of India, was the Chief Guest. Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Hon’ble Minister of State for Labour and Employment (Independent Charge) in discussion with Justice Shri P.C. Pant, Hon’ble Member, NHRC and Shri Jaideep Govind, Secretary General, NHRC during the National Seminar on elimination of Bonded Labour System held on 8th November 2019 9.9 The objective of the seminar was to raise awareness amongst all the stakeholders and strengthen commitment towards eradicating the Bonded Labour System. The Seminar further aimed to review the action of States on the implementation of bonded labour rehabilitation scheme while establishing conceptual clarity about strategy of identification, release and rehabilitation ANNUAL REPORT 2019-20 121

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