Trafficked girls clear Class 10 board exams

NEW DELHI: Girls often outperform boys in the board examinations when they are given equal opportunities.

NEW DELHI: Girls often outperform boys in the board examinations when they are given equal opportunities.

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But for two trafficked girls, who were sexually abused at Delhi’s infamous GB Road, clearing Class 10 board exam was a special feat.

The girls, aged 16 and 17 and hailing from South Pargana district of West Bengal, secured over 50% marks in their Class 10 board exams. Rescued three years ago by an NGO, Shakti Vahini, the girls had been enrolled in a school in West Bengal and were attending regular classes.

Both of them now want to continue studying. One of them wants to become a journalist, according to activists involved in their rehabilitation.

The girls are among scores of victims of trafficking in the country who have been showing exception willpower to leave their past behind and start their life afresh.

NGOs working for the welfare of such children have recommended to the HRD ministry to include special provisions for such victims in the new education policy being finalized by it.

Last year, too, three girls — who had been rescued from Delhi — had cleared their Class 12 board exam. One of them, a 17-year-old, had cleared her Class 12 board examination under Jharkhand board. The girl, after escaping from the placement agency where she had been trapped, helped the anti-human trafficking unit of Khunti, Jharkhand, to rescue more girls from the capital.

Officials of Bachpan Bachao Andolan, an NGO run by Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi, said they had suggested to the HRD ministry for putting in place a rehabilitation plan of such victims in the new education policy to be made public soon.

“We have recommended that compulsory education be put in place for trafficked victims,” said Rakesh Sengar, programme coordinator of BBA.