Mehak Gupta Grover
We say, a country’s progress is in the hands of the youth. But what is the future of our children? Slavery was abolished one hundred fifty years ago; and yet there are more people in the slavery today than any other time in our history. Thousands of people, largely poor, rural children are lured to India ‘s towns and cities, each year by traffickers who promise good jobs, but sell them into modern day slavery. Some end up as domestic workers, or are forced to work in small industries, farming or even pushed into brothels where they are sexually exploited. In many cases, they are not paid or are held in debt bondage. Some go missing and their families cannot trace them.
While economic depreciation is an important reason behind child trafficking, but there are several catalysts that make it one of the most profitable businesses in the world. Over 40% of India ‘s population is economically deprived, without access to basic opportunities. Influenced by society to have children despite the lack of resources, then they find that there is more money in selling their children off rather taking care of them. The fact is that the children are more vulnerable than adults, making them an easier target and a commodity for gangs. They are looked upon as more expendable than the rest of the population which makes them available as objects to be sold. There is increase in trafficked children every year. India ‘s West Bengal state, which shares a porous border with poorer neighbours Bangladesh and Nepal – is known as the human trafficking hub. The desert state of Rajasthan is the second highest in number. There are many reasons for this shameful act. Lack of education is the prime reason. Parents are easily lured with the lies about the possibilities of better education, domestic work and nurturing atmosphere. Caste system is still a contemporary reality. While urban India fights or reels under caste based discrimination, with reduced access to opportunities for advancement. India has seen a series of political parties coming to power. There has been a general lack of will amongst the political class to pass a strong anti- child trafficking legislation. The list of pending cases in Indian courts, including Supreme Court, goes into hundreds and thousands. This creates a lack of strong legal precedent against child trafficking and embolden the traffickers. While the span of corruption is part of everyday news, it’s reach is far more pervasive in rural india, triggering off poverty, human trafficking, inequality and bribery. More importantly, it has created mind sets where people seek to become rich overnight, even going as far as joining gangs and committing crimes.
Child trafficking for any reason is a violation of national and international human rights. It is a man- made social evil coupled with unimaginable and uncomfortable consequences and most devastatingly like violence beget violence, child trafficking also beget child trafficking. This vicious cycle needs proper and dynamic handling from all perspectives and concerned governments must look at it seriously. The plight of the disadvantaged children is precarious. Without proper education, the future for such marginalised indivisuals is grim.
Child trafficking is the violation of human rights- right to life, right to liberty and security, right not to be submitted to slavery or bonded labour, right to be free from gendered violence, right to freedom of movement, right to just and favourable conditions of work, right to freedom of association, right of children to special protection.
This violation exists because people accept it and make excuses for it. There are no excuses for child labour. All forms of child labour are unacceptable. It exists because international community allows it to exist. Child labour could be eliminated with political will and action. But, sadly, it is increasing day by day. It exists because right of children to full- time education is not respected. It exists because farmers are not paid a fair price for their crops, so they are unable to afford school fees for their children. It exists because international legislations seeking to end child labour have not been taken seriously. It exists, simply, because we haven’t done enough to end it.
Who is responsible for this appalling child slavery? everyone!
The world has always been like this- there are problems and there are solutions. Some people choose to create the problems, others prefer to be a part of the solution. It is upto us to choose what we want to be- a part of the problem, or part of the solution by helping create an inclusive world.
“Children should be making sandcastles, bricks.”
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