Bhopal: As compared to the pre Covid years from 2016 to 2020, Madhya Pradesh registered more than four times the number of child trafficking cases in the post pandemic years from 2021 to 2022. The report has been released jointly by Games24x7 and Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation (KSCF), founded by Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi.
The top ten states that saw a steep rise in the number of trafficked children in this period include Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Delhi, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Orissa, Telangana, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.
The report, titled ‘Child Trafficking in India: Insights from Situational Data Analysis and the Need for Tech-driven Intervention Strategies’, has been released marking the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on July 30.
Cosmetic industry engages children under age group of 5 and 8 years
Throwing further light on the plight of child labourers in the country, the report revealed that while the maximum of children between 13 and 18 years were engaged by most of the industries, cosmetic industry was found to even engage children under the age group of 5 and 8 years.
Hotels and dhabas employ maximum number of child labours
On sector wise employment of children, the report found that the industries that employ the maximum number of child labours are hotels and dhabas (15.6%), followed by Mom & Pop automobile or transport industry (13%), and garments (11.18%).
Electronic as well as garments factories employ maximum number of trafficked children
Besides, among factories, the electronic factories as well as garments factories employed the maximum number of trafficked children, followed by brick kilns, agriculture and footwear.
While the tasks that the children were made to do in the garments factories included sari colouring and polishing, spinning mill helper, stitching and dyeing, they were made to make bulbs, pack wires in electronics factories. While other factories engaged adolescents for various tasks, brick kiln and roof tile units even engaged children below the age of 5 in their units.
Anti-Trafficking Bill should be passed in this session of Parliament
On the rising number of child trafficking cases in the country, Rear Admiral Rahul Kumar Shrawat, AVSM (Retd.), Managing Director, KSCF, said, “The numbers look grim and worrisome, but Central as well as state governments and law enforcement agencies like the Railways Protection Force, Border Security Force, etc have been taking prompt action in nabbing the traffickers and spreading awareness."
Sharwat said this needs to be supported by a stringent and comprehensive anti-trafficking law so it is our demand that the Anti-Trafficking Bill be passed in this session of the Parliament itself. Our children are in danger and we have no time to lose, he added.
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