Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act 50th Anniversary on February 9, 2026

Key facts

• The Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act was enacted by the Parliament of India on February 9, 1976, to eradicate forced labour practices.
• The legislation will mark its 50th anniversary of implementation on February 9, 2026.
• The Government of Karnataka provides immediate financial assistance of ₹30,000 to rescued bonded labourers from the Bonded Labour Corpus Fund.
• Rescued bonded labourers in Karnataka are entitled to a monthly social security payment of ₹2,000 for a duration of 24 months.
• The Karnataka government has notified 52 authorities across 15 departments as bonded labour prohibition officers to enforce the Act.
• A seven-member committee has been constituted by the Karnataka government to study the prevalence of the bonded labour system and provide recommendations.
• Purusaala Lingamma, a survivor from the Chenchu tribe, was elected as the sarpanch of Amaragiri village in Telangana on December 14, 2025.
• Ranjita Rana, a survivor from Odisha, was appointed as a paralegal volunteer in September 2025 and serves as the secretary of the Shram Vahini organisation.
• The Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) of Rajasthan Police honoured Ranjita Rana in July 2025 for her contributions to raising awareness against bonded labour.
• Govind, a survivor from Bihar, established the Nai Pehchan Sangathan Sitamarhi to advocate for the rights of rescued labourers and raise awareness.
• The state of Karnataka has implemented the 2016 revised and revamped guidelines to enhance the rescue and rehabilitation of bonded labourers.