Modern Slavery in Contemporary India

Abstract

Modern slavery is a broad term that comprises all aspects of serfdom and related activities, including bonded and forced labor, human trafficking, and other forms of commercial exploitation. Although India’s sustained economic growth has enabled the country to achieve its Sustainable Development Goal of halving poverty, low-income states continue to drive labor residing in the rural areas to the cities in search of economic opportunities. While the Indian government has criminalized most forms of modern slavery and has rolled out several schemes to help the most vulnerable, these have had little impact given the scale of the issue. It is also important to note that the current academic literature on modern slavery (especially in India) is limited. Recognizing this gap, this chapter aims first to discuss the prevalence of modern slavery in key Indian sectors. It will specifically examine the key reasons behind the increased vulnerability and exploitation of Indian women and girls. It will also consider whether the extent of exploitation is related to the deep-rooted patriarchal notion that continues to exist in modern-day India. The second section will examine the responsibilities of both business and government and offer implications on how to best address this issue. Finally, the chapter will conclude by addressing the paucity of academic and pedagogical literature in business schools examining modern slavery in India. This section considers initial action guides with the hope to facilitate further discussion in this area.