The Institute of Development Studies, with the support of Praxis – Institute for Participatory Practices, conducted a comprehensive baseline study in northern India’s Freedom Fund hotspot, focusing on Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to combat bonded labour.
The study Participatory statistics to measure prevalence in bonded labour hotspots in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar: findings of the baseline study employed participatory methods including interviews, focus groups, and life story analysis across 3,466 households in 82 hamlets, involving 14 NGOs. Key findings indicated that 51% of households had members in bonded labour, with 29% having all working members affected. Significant geographic variations were observed, with prevalence ranging widely across intervention areas.
Factors influencing bonded labour included caste, gender, age, access to government schemes, and household economic conditions. Land ownership correlated inversely with bonded labour prevalence, with higher incidence among landless households. Health expenses were a primary reason for indebtedness, while access to banking services showed minimal impact. The study highlighted the complex dynamics shaping bonded labour, underscoring the need for targeted interventions tailored to local socioeconomic contexts.
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