Trafficking is one of the major supply chains of children into forced labour and slavery in India, and the problem is increasing. The greatest share of trafficked children is brought from Jharkhand. According to official statistics, 100 000 girls are trafficked from the state every year; 80 per cent of them belonging to tribal communities. Most of them are forced to work as domestic helpers or prostitutes in cities such as Delhi. Mumbai or Kolkata. Working full-time with little or nor payment, the children are deprived of their fundamental human rights to security, food, water and education. They are extremely vulnerable to violence, sexual and psychological abuse and emotional displacement.
Several interlinked factors cause trafficking of girls in Jharkhand to be a tremendous problem. Ranchi, the capital, is surrounded with poor tribal villages that are deprived of a stable livelihood and food rights. The social dimension, included cast, gender and poverty, makes the tribal girls especially prone to become trafficked. Lack of awareness, both regarding the actual trafficking process and about their legal rights, makes these girls vulnerable and easy victims.
The Child Trust has established reporting and information centres in Ranchi and Gumla districts of Jharkhand, where families can report a missing child, receive information about government schemes and legal mechanisms available to them.
As described in detail under “Strategy”, we aim to transform villages that are vulnerable to losing their children in trafficking into knowledge hubs that has the required skills and empowerment to resist the increasing demand for child labour through the rehabilitation and prevention activities.