Bonded Agricultural Labour in India of 1996-Case of Hallia Block in UP

India of 1996 Case of Hallia Block in UP Kripa Shankar For the first three decades after independence, the country's rulers refused even to acknowledge the phenomenon of debt-bonded labourers. Then in 1976, after the proclamation of emergency, the government viewed the passing of the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act as synonymous with the freeing of all bonded labourers and cancelling of their debts. The brazen hypocrisy of these postures is exposed by a small survey of five villages in Hallia block of Mirzapur district in UP.