India shows the way for rehabilitating child trafficking survivors, claims NCPCR chief

By A Representative

The child rights group Just Rights for Children Alliance (JRCA) has come up with Tech Initiative to Combat Child Trafficking (TACT), calling it a new way to battle child trafficking and ensure safe migration. Announced in New Delhi at a National Consultation on World Day against Trafficking in Persons, the five-point initiative seeks to combat trafficking, even as promoting safe migration for "rehabilitation and actionable intelligence inputs for the prosecution of traffickers."

The five key areas that the TACT initiative focuses on are: intelligence sharing via global database of traffickers; tracing illegal payments through banks and financial institutions; partnering with tech firms to identify technology-driven trafficking patterns; strengthening global portals for safe migration and ensuring access to government schemes; and providing psychological first aid to survivors to enhance information flow about traffickers.

Participated by over 250 persons from 16 states, mostly from the border states, government and semi-government functionaries, including the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, States Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Railway Protection Force, the Police Department, dominated those who spoke.

The consultation took place amidst

alarming statistics on trafficking, which revealed it as the third largest organized crime after drugs and arms. The annual global profits from forced labour and forced sexual exploitation are estimated at $236 billion, with 27.6 million victims of human trafficking at any given time, one-third of whom are children.

Government of India records show that 450 million people migrate within the country, and according to the National Crime Records Bureau data from 2022, every day 8 children are trafficked in the country. However, there are no data on Indian share in global profits from forced labour and forced sexual exploitation.

Painting a rosy picture of India, speaking at the opening of the consultation, Priyank Kanoongo, Chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), claimed, “India has shown the way for ensuring the rehabilitation of survivors and to bring them back into the mainstream is through education. The last 10 years have seen significant development in the field of infrastructure and digital monitoring in India, and today we are well-positioned to monitor every movement."

He added, "All we now need is the active support of all the state governments for safe migration and for ensuring that all children, irrespective of their place of birth, are admitted to schools. Besides rescuing children and prosecuting the culprits, society needs to collectively take preventive measures to combat trafficking."

JRCA founder Bhuwan Ribhu said, “Even one child trafficked is a child too many. Victims of trafficking ought to be at the core of our strategies in fighting this global organised and economic crime. The first step to transform a victim into a survivor is through psychological first aid. We have to involve survivors at all levels in combatting trafficking."

He added, "No one can provide clues to the approach of traffickers and the scale of the issue better than survivors. Their participation in intelligence gathering, identifying the money trail and patterns of technology-driven trafficking is crucial in fighting this global organised and economic crime.”

He insisted on tracking the emerging digitally-enabled and cyber-enabled trafficking through social media, stressing that India needs a comprehensive anti-trafficking law for prevention, rehabilitation, and repatriation of the survivors while ensuring the prosecution of traffickers.

Shikha Goel (IPS), Additional Director General of Police, CID, Telangana, said, “Migration is the engine to progress and safe migration is the key. Migrants are the nation builders and ensuring their dignity and welfare is our collective responsibility and need. However, with new dimensions of trafficking that have emerged, we need to urgently address them."

She added, "To begin with, we can have a national helpline number for migrant workers so that they can immediately seek help, information in case of any need. Besides, we need targeted awareness in every district, every state so that while the migrant workers are well aware of their rights, their employers know their responsibilities and there is no exploitation of the workers or their families.”

Comments

From snowstorms to heatwaves: India’s alarming climate shift in 2025

By Dr. Gurinder Kaur* Climate change is no longer a future concern—it is visibly affecting every country today. Since the beginning of 2025, its effects on India have become starkly evident. These include unseasonal snowfall in hill states, the early onset of heatwaves in southern regions, a shortening spring season, and unusually early and heavy rainfall, among other phenomena.

Madhya Pradesh village's inspiring example of how small budget effort conserves water amidst heat wave

By Bharat Dogra Heat waves have been intensifying over vast areas of India in recent days and there are also many reports of water scarcity making the conditions worse for people. However the situation can differ significantly in various villages depending on whether or not significant water conservation efforts have been made. In recent years I have visited several villages of good water conservation efforts where I noticed that even at the time of adverse weather conditions, people of these villages as well as farm and other animals feel important relief in terms of access to adequate water. Due to water and moisture conservation, conditions of farms and pastures is also much better. What is more, with the participation and involvement of people, even quite low budgets have been utilized well to achieve very useful and durable results.

Population explosion: India needs a clear-headed policy, data-driven governance, long-term planning

By N.S. Venkataraman* At the upcoming G7 summit in Canada, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been invited as a special guest, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau citing two main reasons: India’s rise as the world’s fifth-largest economy and its status as the most populous nation. While economic growth is undoubtedly a point of pride, the latter distinction—India’s population—raises an important question: should this be seen as a strength or a source of growing concern? India has not conducted a national census since 2011, leaving the current population figures largely speculative. Estimates place the population at around 1.4 billion, with projections reaching 1.8 billion by 2050. Despite modest declines in fertility and death rates, the annual population growth remains between 1.5% and 2%. The next census, scheduled for 2026, will provide a more accurate demographic picture, but until then, policymaking remains uninformed by crucial data. Over the past eleven years, the gov...

Victim to cricketing politics, Alvin Kalicharan was a most organized left handed batsman

By Harsh Thakor* On March 21st Alvin Kalicharan celebrates his 75th birthday. Sadly, his exploits have been forgotten or overlooked. Arguably no left handed batsman was technically sounder or more organized than this little man. Kalicharan was classed as a left-handed version of Rohan Kanhai. Possibly no left-handed batsmen to such a degree blend technical perfection with artistry and power.

Central London discussion to spotlight LGBTQ+ ex-Muslim rights and persecution

By A Representative On June 13, 2025, the Dissident Club in Central London will host a public discussion to mark the 18th anniversary of the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain (CEMB) and to commemorate World Refugee Day. The event, scheduled from 7:00 to 9:00 pm, will feature speakers Ali Malik, Maryam Namazie, and Taha Siddiqui, who are expected to address the intersecting challenges faced by LGBTQ+ ex-Muslims globally.

Exploring 'Volokolamsk Highway': A tale of Soviet heroism and resilience

By Harsh Thakor* "Volokolamsk Highway" is a classical war novel by Alexander Bek, first published in Russian in 1944 and translated into English in 1958. Set during WWII on the Eastern Front, it describes critical battles fought by the Soviet Red Army against Nazi forces advancing toward Moscow in October 1941. Republished by Foreign Languages Press in 2023, the novel offers a vivid portrayal of Soviet soldiers' struggles to defeat fascism. It is recommended for those seeking insight into Soviet heroism during World War II.

Public health experts criticize Ranveer Singh’s McDonald’s collaboration in open letter

By A Representative A high-profile marketing tie-up between Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh and fast-food giant McDonald’s has come under fire from health advocates, who warn that celebrity endorsements of ultra-processed foods are exacerbating India’s public health crisis. On June 14, "Delhi Times" splashed a front-page advertisement unveiling a McDonald’s meal named after Singh, celebrating it as a symbol of youth appeal and brand synergy. However, the move has prompted concern among health professionals, particularly Dr. Arun Gupta, a well-known pediatrician and public health advocate, who has responded with a sharply worded open letter published on his blog .

Terrorism, geopolitics and the Kashmir dilemma: Unraveling a global crisis rooted in imperial agendas

By Ram Puniyani* The recent terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam has triggered a chain of events, including retaliatory strikes on terrorist bases in Pakistan. With a ceasefire in place, it is imperative to take a deeper look at how to address this cancerous phenomenon that continues to haunt our societies. Terrorism has captured the global spotlight particularly after the 9/11 attacks in the US, where over 2,000 people died in the Twin Tower tragedy. The term “Islamic terrorism” was popularised by US media and soon picked up globally, unfairly linking an entire religion to violent extremism. While individual acts of terror can be identified, defining "terrorism" as a concept remains elusive—even the United Nations has not succeeded in articulating a universally accepted definition. In India, terrorism has mostly been visible in the recurring violence in Kashmir, where radicalised Muslim youth, often brainwashed, have carried out deadly attacks. The 26/11 Mumbai attacks in ...

Battle for right to mourn: Renewed restrictions on families retrieving bodies of deceased

By Harsh Thakor* The right of families to claim the bodies of their deceased relatives should be fundamental, yet history has repeatedly shown how political and security policies can obstruct this process, turning mourning into a prolonged struggle. Over the past two decades, families of individuals killed in armed encounters have faced barriers ranging from bureaucratic hurdles to outright intimidation. Legal victories momentarily secured this right, but recent developments suggest a reversal, with practices reminiscent of past repressive tactics resurfacing under the current administration. A Legacy of Restriction Following the failed 2004 peace talks, security operations intensified, leading to the deaths of numerous individuals classified as revolutionaries. Families attempting to retrieve bodies encountered resistance, often needing official certification from police stations to prove their relationship with the deceased. In many cases, authorities withheld ...

Search This Blog