Human trafficking is rampant in India. The vicious, powerful network of the dealers has become so widespread that it is nearly impossible to put an end to this disgusting practice any time soon. But, India is making some progress although at a snail’s pace.
The Minister of State in the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Smt. Krishana Raj informed the Rajya Sabha today that 27994 women and 23699 children (below 18 years) have been rescued from the clutches of human traffickers during the period 2014-16.
According to the official press release from the Ministry of Women and Child Development, women and children become easy targets for human trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation for prostitution, forced labor, begging, petty crimes, removal of organs and several other reasons.
In 2014, 7568 women and 7670 children were rescued; in 2015, 16701 women and 11954 children were rescued, and in 2016 (till June), 3725 women and 4075 children have been rescued.
The Government of India is taking some serious measures to stop this menace. The Ministry has implemented “Ujjawala” to prevent trafficking and rescue, rehabilitate, re-integrate and repatriate victims of trafficking. The Ujjawala scheme has enforced set up of 162 Protective & Rehabilitative Homes, 302 Short Stay Homes, and 289 Swadhar Homes across the nation. With these centers, the government will provide for shelter, food, counseling, medical & legal aid, and vocational training for the victims.
The reasons cited for the unbridled trafficking of women and children are illiteracy, lack of vocational skills, dejection in love and deception, economic distress, migration, growing consumerism, ill-treatment by parents/guardians, and desertion by spouse.
In May 2016, Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi unveiled a draft of India’s most comprehensive anti-human trafficking law.
