The "Digital Shackle": Researching Modern Cyber Slavery and Policy Responses in India

Abstract

This paper explores why bonded labour, a form of modern slavery, still exists in India even though it was legally banned nearly fifty years ago. The sources explain that this exploitative system is deeply rooted in poverty, unpaid debts, and caste-based discrimination, which keep many families trapped in a cycle of forced work for little or no pay. The study focuses on a specific government program called the Central Sector Scheme (CSS), launched in 2016 to provide financial help, housing, and job training to rescued workers. However, the paper identifies major problems in how these programs work, such as long delays in giving money to survivors, inactive committees that rarely meet, and a lack of training for the officials involved. Furthermore, the research paper highlights a new and growing threat called "Cyber Slavery," where young people are tricked into going abroad for high-paying IT jobs, only to have their passports stolen and be forced to carry out online scams under the threat of torture. Beyond poverty, caste, geographical boundaries, cyber slavery has turned to be one of the most serious forms of slavery which is globally relevant issue in the present era. To address these issues, the paper suggests strengthening local committees, using digital tools to track cases, and ensuring that survivors themselves have a voice in the rehabilitation process. Ultimately, the study aims to provide a roadmap for the government to create a more accountable and effective system that can finally end all forms of bonded labour in India. Despite the formal abolition of the bonded labour system nearly five decades ago, it remains one of India's most entrenched human rights violations. This paper examines the effectiveness of the Central Sector Scheme for Rehabilitation of Bonded Labourers (CSS) introduced in 2016. While the CSS provides a rights-based framework for socio-economic reintegration, its implementation is hindered by systemic gaps, including administrative delays and inactive monitoring mechanisms. Furthermore, this research highlights the emergence of "Cyber Slavery" as a modern evolution of bondage, requiring an updated policy response.

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