Human trafficking thrives in poverty

Desperate to meet the medical expenses of her ailing mother, Ruma fell into a trap laid by a human trafficking network and ended up in a brothel.

Desperate to meet the medical expenses of her ailing mother, Ruma fell into a trap laid by a human trafficking network and ended up in a brothel.

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Fortunately for her, an anti-human trafficking squad rescued her and she has since been rehabilitated as a security guard in a hotel in Ranchi.

Ruma is one among hundreds of tribal girls who have been rescued over the years from various places across the country. "A few of them were married off, some have been employed in hotels and security agencies while others are waiting for similar opportunities, Sanjay Kumar Mishra, the state Coordinator of Action Against Trafficking Sexual Exploitation of Children and Women in India (ATSEC), said.

This year alone they resuced 2,800 children hailing from Jharkhand from various parts of the state and the country, Mishra said.

He said industrialists like Arcelor-Mittal and Jindal Steel were helping a lot in this endeavour. The Criminal Investigation Department is also taking initiatives to check the despicable act in the state.

The Additional Director-General of Police (CID), G S Rath, said that the traffickers exploit the children sexually and use them as bonded labourers.