Child trafficking crisis: UP, Bihar, Andhra lead by disturbing figures, Delhi reports alarming increase
PTC News Desk: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Andhra Pradesh have the highest number of children trafficked between 2016 and 2022, while Delhi has experienced a frightening 68% increase from pre- to post-Covid times, a new study by an NGO claimed.
These figures were revealed in a comprehensive report titled 'Child Trafficking in India: Insights from Situational Data Analysis and the Need for Tech-driven Intervention Strategies,' which was co-compiled by Games24x7 and the Kailash Satyarthi Children's Foundation (KSCF), which was founded by Nobel Peace Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi.
The report, released on Sunday to mark the 'World Day Against Trafficking in Persons,' provided a dismal picture of the country's child trafficking crisis.
According to the survey, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Andhra Pradesh have the highest number of children trafficked between 2016 and 2022.
Notably, from pre- to post-Covid periods, Delhi saw a 68% increase in child trafficking incidents.
Jaipur City appeared as the country's top district for child trafficking, while the other four top spots on the list were discovered to be in the national capital.
The data collected by Games24x7's data science team is based on KSCF and its partners' interventions in child trafficking cases in 262 districts across 21 states from 2016 to 2022, offering a complete snapshot of current trends and patterns in child trafficking.
During this time, 13,549 children under the age of 18 were rescued, constituting a sample size for portions of the analysis.
According to the study, 80% of the rescued children were between the ages of 13 and 18, while 13% were between the ages of nine and twelve, and over 2% were even younger than nine.
This showed that child trafficking affects children of all ages, making it a widespread problem.
The study also put light on the industries that are plagued with child labour.
Hotels and dhabas employ the most child labourers (15.6%), followed by the vehicle or transportation industry (13%), and clothes (11.18%).
According to the study, children as young as five and eight years old were found working in the cosmetic industry.
While the study revealed a considerable increase in child trafficking cases across several states, Uttar Pradesh stands out with an alarming increase in incidents.
The number of recorded events was 267 during the pre-Covid period (2016-2019), but it skyrocketed to 1214 during the post-Covid phase (2021-2022).
- With inputs from agencies
