Bihar's dark side: The hub of girl child trafficking for forced exploitation
The article exposes Bihar as a major hub for girl child trafficking, often for forced participation in 'orchestras' or the flesh trade. Victims, some as young as 12, are lured with promises of dance careers or marriage, then subjected to violence, rape, and exploitation. Despite rescue efforts, conviction rates remain abysmal due to under-resourced Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) and jurisdictional issues. The article highlights the lack of regulatory oversight, poverty, and geographical factors (porous border with Nepal, railway connectivity) that facilitate trafficking. It calls for a comprehensive strategy, PICKET (Policy, Institutions, Convergence, Knowledge, Economically, Technology), to combat this issue.
Key Points
- Bihar has emerged as a significant hub for girl child trafficking, often for exploitation in 'dance troupes' and the flesh trade.
- Victims are lured with false promises and subjected to severe physical, psychological, and sexual abuse.
- Factors contributing to Bihar's vulnerability include lack of regulatory oversight, poverty, and geographical location facilitating trafficking routes.
- Despite existing laws like the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act and POCSO Act, conviction rates for trafficking remain very low.
- A comprehensive strategy, PICKET, is proposed, focusing on policy, institutions, convergence, knowledge, economic disincentives, and technology to combat trafficking.
Exam Facts
- In 2022, 2,878 children were trafficked in India, including 1,059 girls (NCRB data).
- Nearly 138 million children were engaged in child labour in 2024 (ILO and UNICEF estimates).
- Laws like the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, Juvenile Justice Act, POCSO Act, and Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act criminalize child trafficking.
- The article mentions specific districts in Bihar like Saran, Gopalganj, Muzaffarpur, Rohtas, and West Champaran as part of the 'orchestra belt'.
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