The document Evaluation report on the results of the interventions to reduce the prevalence of bonded labour in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, produced by the Institute of Development Studies and Praxis India for the Freedom Fund, assesses interventions aimed at reducing bonded labour in Northen India. The project, initiated in 2014, employed a hotspot model targeting communities with a high prevalence of bonded labour. The evaluation utilised a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches, including analysing over 350 life stories, baseline and endline prevalence studies involving more than 6,000 households, action research with community groups, and qualitative interviews with various stakeholders.
Findings revealed a significant reduction in bonded labour prevalence, from 56.2% to 11.6%, with notable improvements in child labour rates. Key drivers of bonded labour included health crises and predatory lending practices. The report recommends scaling the successful hotspot model to new communities, enhancing health interventions, and providing targeted support to vulnerable families. It emphasises the importance of continuous monitoring and the need for a clear theory of change to ensure sustainable outcomes and address systemic issues driving exploitation.
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