Human Trafficking Survivors Report Suspicious Movement Of Children For A Crackdown On Traffickers

Trafficked to Delhi and forced to work as a child labourer when he was just eight, 19-year-old Mohammed Chotu maintains a hawk's eye today on some of the most high-risk trafficking hotspots in his area. Patrolling across villages, he is busy spreading awareness, sensitising stakeholders and recruiting volunteers to protect children from traffickers. Talking to NDTV about rescuing children from the dead pool of human trafficking, Mohammed Chotu, Trafficking Survivor says,

When I came back to the village from the Bal Ashram, I saw that children were doing drugs, they were not going to school. Our work is to spread awareness on the ground, but I realised people in my own village are not understanding the situation. I thought about how we could improve the situation. Food, education and love, are the basic rights of a child, they are entitled to them. This is what we teach people, this is what we explain to the elders and the women.

Also Read: Unfolding The Dark Reality Of Human Trafficking In India And The Need For New Anti-Trafficking Bill

8 children go missing every hour in India, 5 are sexually abused. Incidentally, Satyarthi Movement's Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) has rescued over 9,000 children and led to the arrest of 260 traffickers since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Working in tandem with government agencies is Kailash Satyarthi Children's Foundation's (KSCF) extensively spread out survivor-led intelligence network. Alert and vigilant 24x7, Chotu like other members of the network, is the key to reporting suspicious movement of children for a crackdown on traffickers.

Also Read: Survivor-led Intelligence Network Helps Rescue Over 9,000 Children Trafficked During COVID-19 Pandemic

Talking about the network, Rakesh Senger, Executive Director, Bal Mitra Mandal, KSCF, said,

The survivor-led intelligence network is an important part of the Kailash Satyarthi Children's Foundation. The network is run by former victims of trafficking. They collect information on people who are trying to take children away from their homes. This information is first shared locally. If the trafficker manages to take the children out of the area, they inform our central office. And then they rescue the victims.

Post rescue, children are not just provided rehabilitation but legal and mental health support as well.

Also Read: Amid COVID-19 Pandemic, Social Media Emerging As A Route For Child Trafficking

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