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Every morning at 8, she carefully applies bright red lipstick, trying her best to create a fuller look, though it often ends up uneven. Afterward, the little girl not more than 15 years smudges the lipstick across her cheeks. She then puts on a thin, delicate stone necklace, its surface stained with dust and marked by scratches, a testament to its wear.
Once done, she turns her attention to her younger brother, who looks to be around six or seven. It’s time for their act, and they need to hurry. The performance begins the moment the traffic light turns red. With a practiced flair, the girl picks up a steel ring. Her brother, less coordinated but eager to join in, attempts to somersault and show off a few clumsy gymnastic moves.
Within a minute and a half, they start knocking on car windows, asking for spare change. Most drivers avert their eyes, a few scold them, while just a handful roll down their windows, offering coins or even a packet of biscuits.
The city moves on while this duo spends the day somersaulting, doing acrobatics and being ignored. The latter is the most dangerous part. To perform in front of strangers and not know if these strangers have even acknowledged their presence is a scar too deep to be filled. Baring all your weaknesses in front of strangers, be your clumsiest self and watch them walk all over you—these experiences as a child are wounds that can never heal. Worse, they become psychological trauma that only worsen as these children grow.
Researches show that apathy and neglect can turn children into criminals. But can we blame them? The entire society collectively chooses to forget about their existence even as these children feel unimportant, unheard and unwanted.
As years go by, they may graduate from somersaulting on roads to becoming those underdogs who made it despite their tough circumstances. They may even be showered with accolade by media and masses alike for their ‘rages to riches’ story, but not everyone shares this story. A lot of these children may also become chain-snatchers, drug peddlers, bullies, rapists or murderers. They can become anything because when they mattered, they were treated like nothings, and now they no longer care or are scared of the society or the system.
So what is the way forward? The first step is to acknowledge that they exist and then to know who they are and where they belong. Be aware of their presence and know that they have been probably been trafficked and snatched from their families. Yes, while many of these children are roped in beggary and such acts by the parents or family members, it is the story of the thousands others that needs to be looked into with greater urgency.
Every year thousands of children go missing, a majority of them falling victims to the trafficking rackets who are forced into various forms of child labour, slavery, organ trade and child sexual abuse. Every hour, ten children go missing, many becoming victims of trafficking networks. A child trafficked from a village in Jharkhand may right now be employed as a child labour in New Delhi while a little girl from Tamil Nadu may be begging on the roads of Mumbai Mahanagri.
In India, the National Crime Records Bureau reported 2,878 cases of child trafficking in 2022 alone. However, this crisis is not limited to India; it is a global issue. The latest US-based Trafficking in Persons report estimates that around 27.6 million people worldwide are victims of human trafficking, with one-third of them being children.
The world needs to act. The world, actually needed to act much earlier.
To begin with, we must prioritize data collection and research. Understanding the nuances of trafficking trends and victim demographics is essential for crafting targeted interventions. Establishing comprehensive monitoring systems for missing children will ensure timely responses when a child disappears.
Community engagement is equally critical. By working alongside NGOs and community leaders, we can create a strong support network for at-risk families. Empowering these families with resources and financial literacy programs will help alleviate the economic pressures that often push children into vulnerable situations. When families have the means to sustain themselves, the risk of exploitation diminishes, offering children a safer environment.
Ultimately, the fight against child trafficking is not just about statistics; it’s about the innocent lives intertwined in those numbers. Every child deserves to be seen, cherished, and protected from harm. By nurturing a culture of empathy and shared responsibility, we can foster communities that refuse to turn a blind eye. When we stand together to defend the rights of our most vulnerable, we create a powerful wave of hope that can wash away the shadows of exploitation. Together, we have the power to transform despair into resilience and make the promise of safety a reality for every child.
These pieces are being published as they have been received – they have not been edited/fact-checked by ThePrint.