Page 43 - DSOC201_SOCIAL_STRUCTURE_AND_SOCIAL_CHANGE_ENGLISH

Social Structure and Social Change

Notes the development departments are so much burdened with schemes like IRDP, JRY, TRYSEM, etc.,
that their programmes mostly remain time-bound and target-oriented without taking into account
the needs, aptitudes and preferences of the beneficiaries.
The group-approach to development will bring the freed bonded labourers together, enable them to
pool their resources, get help from various agencies, departments and banks, and integrate
themselves for a common purpose for a qualitative and permanent rehabilitation. Such a ‘group-
effort’ can be land-based, craft-based or asset-based for success. This requires proper selection of
beneficiaries, the place where they are to be rehabilitated, selection of skills to be taught to them,
and building awareness among the beneficiaries themselves and converting them into willing
partners in a joint venture for their rehabilitation, progress and advancement.
Effective Concern
The plight of bonded labourers continues to be a serious social problem and a matter of concern
for public, government, judiciary, social scientists and social workers. If about 17 lakh crimes in a
year, for which about 26 lakh persons are arrested under the IPC, are considered a serious issue
for the Indian society, freeing of three million bonded labourers must be viewed as a very crucial
issue. For this purpose, it is necessary that researches be sponsored by different funding agencies
to ascertain the extent and the nature of the problem, examine handicaps in identification, utility
of various rehabilitation schemes, coordination of activities between central government and
voluntary organisations, necessity of amending the 1976 Act, determining responsibilities and
accountability of the concerned officers, and introducing after-care programmes for the freed
bonded labourers. Unless serious efforts are taken to save bonded labourers from ruthless
exploitation by vested interests, the problem will continue to be a social menace. The total abolition
of the system of bonded labour through legislation may not be feasible in the forseable future, yet
doing away with the legislation may cause further distress to the victims. Removing poverty,
unemployment and illiteracy, which are believed to be the three basic causes of bonded labour
system, is also not easy. The formulation of future plans, programmes and projects for bonded
labourers would require a broad approach and action at various levels.
The problem of bonded labour has, thus, to be fought at various fronts/social, psychological and
legal. We have to educate the exploited not to succumb to pressure tactics. We have to tell the
exploiters that law cannot be circumvented and has to take its course in democratic India. We have
to create committed opinion among the masses. We have to involve not only intellectuals but also
the enlightened citizens to carry the message to those who matter. We have to enforce laws
rigidly. We have also to impress upon politicians to tackle the issue with concerted interest and
missionary zeal. The system based on exploitation by a few socially and economically powerful
persons, trading on the misery and suffering of large numbers of men and holding them in
bondage constitutes a shameful feature of our national life. The bondage of the economically
impoverished segments of society for a small debt is totally incompatible with the egalitarian
socio-economic order promised to Indians. Wiping out this system is basic and crucial to human
dignity and is in conformity with constitutional values.
Land Reforms: Nature and Social Consequences
Land Reforms
The important land reforms introduced after independence in our country are: (1) abolition of
zamindari system; (2) accepting the fundamental principle that lands belonged to those who do
the tilling; (3) enacting Land Ceiling Act; (4) encouraging Bhoodan and Sarvodyay movements;
and (5) devising suitable rational basis for obtaining land revenue. The proposal ‘land belonging
to the tiller’ was meant to redistribute rural income to the advantage of those who work in the
fields and to the disadvantage of those who do not. Another effect of this proposal was that
control of a very considerable amount of land was to pass from rent-receivers to tenants, crop-
shares and labourers. What were the possible measures to effect this proposal through legislation?
(i) to provide that at the death of non-tilling owners, their rights in land could pass only to those
who already are actual tillers, or (ii) the legislation might lay down that no further transfers of

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