| PYQ Relevance:
[UPSC 2024] In dealing with socio-economic issues of development, what kind of collaboration between government, NGO’s and the private sector would be most productive? Linkage: This question is highly relevant because the article explicitly state that child trafficking in Bihar is a severe socio-economic issue rooted in “poverty” and “complete absence of regulatory oversight and social acceptance for girls being commodified. |
Mentor’s Comment: The trafficking and exploitation of minor girls in Bihar’s orchestra groups has sparked national concern after the rescue of over 270 girls this year alone—many of them subjected to sexual abuse and forced labour. Despite existing laws, trafficking networks thrive due to weak enforcement, poor inter-state coordination, and lack of regulation. The Patna High Court, responding to a plea by child rights groups, has recognized the issue as serious and directed the Bihar government to act urgently. This case highlights the systemic failures in preventing trafficking and calls for a comprehensive, prevention-based strategy to safeguard children from exploitation.
Today’s editorial analyses trafficking and exploitation of minor girls. This topic is important for GS Paper III (Internal Security) in the UPSC mains exam.
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Let’s learn!
Why in the News?
Recently, there has been national concern over the trafficking and abuse of young girls in Bihar’s orchestra groups, after more than 270 girls were rescued this year.
What factors make Bihar a hub for child trafficking ?
- Geographical vulnerabilities: Bihar’s porous border with Nepal and seamless railway connectivity to trafficking-prone states like West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Assam, and Uttar Pradesh facilitate trafficking routes.
- Economic desperation and social acceptance: Deep poverty, especially in rural areas, and a cultural normalisation of girls being commodified contribute to vulnerability.
- Deceptive recruitment practices: Traffickers exploit aspirations for dance, employment, or marriage, luring families with false promises, especially in districts like Saran, Gopalganj, Muzaffarpur, and others in the ‘orchestra belt’.
What are the existing laws to prevent child exploitation?
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Why do existing laws fail to curb trafficking despite being comprehensive?
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Legal Framework Undermined by Weak Implementation
- Under-enforcement and misclassification: Despite laws like POCSO, JJ Act, and Immoral Traffic Prevention Act, many trafficking cases are filed under generic categories like kidnapping or missing persons, weakening legal accountability.
- Low conviction rates: There’s a sharp disconnect between the number of rescues and successful prosecutions. Convictions remain low due to lack of evidence, procedural delays, and poor legal follow-through.
- Weak Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs): Most AHTUs are under-resourced, lack dedicated staff, and suffer from poor inter-state coordination – limiting their effectiveness.
2. Poor Local Vigilance and Community-Level Gaps
- Community silence and normalisation: In many villages and schools, missing children aren’t reported – either due to fear of police or because migration is seen as normal.
Eg: In Saran district, Bihar, girls trafficked to orchestras weren’t reported by villagers who assumed they had migrated for work. - Delayed or uninformed local response: Panchayats and Child Welfare Committees (CWCs) often lack awareness or training to respond promptly.
Eg: In East Champaran, a CWC failed to stop a trafficker from taking custody of a minor using a false identity.
- Fragmented Inter-Agency Coordination
- Lack of coordination between police forces: Investigations often stall because police from different states don’t share real-time data or work collaboratively.
Eg: A girl trafficked from Gopalganj (Bihar) to Howrah (West Bengal) remained untraced for months due to poor inter-state coordination. - No unified tracking database: Absence of a centralised system makes it hard to identify trafficking patterns or repeat offenders.
Eg: Multiple cases from Sitamarhi went undetected because FIRs weren’t cross-referenced.
4. Surveillance and Monitoring Gaps at Transit Points
- Neglected transport hubs: Unlike railways (monitored by the RPF), bus stands and private vehicles lack surveillance protocols.
Eg: A trafficking ring used night buses from Muzaffarpur to Odisha, bypassing detection entirely.
What role can technology play in prevention of trafficking?
- Real-time Data Sharing for Border Monitoring: Technology-enabled platforms like PICKET (Prevention, Investigation, and Combating of Human Trafficking for Enforcement Tracking) help law enforcement agencies share real-time intelligence at interstate checkpoints.
- Predictive Analysis and Hotspot Mapping: AI and data analytics can identify trafficking-prone areas, track patterns in missing persons reports, and trigger early alerts.
- Victim Identification and Case Tracking: Digital tools help maintain a centralised database of trafficked persons, FIRs, and case progress, ensuring follow-up and victim rehabilitation. Eg: A rescued child in Odisha was linked to an FIR in West Bengal using PICKET, allowing swift family reunification and prosecution.
Way forward
- Strengthen Local and Border Surveillance: Deploy trained staff at village, block, and border levels with access to real-time data for early detection of trafficking.
- Scale Up Tech Platforms like PICKET: Expand AI-based tracking, digital case monitoring, and inter-state data sharing for coordinated, victim-focused action.
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