According to the latest reports, every 10 minutes a child goes missing in India. Disturbingly, millions of children across the nation remain unaccounted for, with girls making up approximately 70% of the missing cases. Of the 3 lakh children reported missing since 2020, 36,000 are yet to be traced. Shockingly, New Delhi alone witnesses five children vanishing every single day, yet the authorities often fail to locate them. This adds up to over 1,800 children disappearing annually in India’s capital city.
The gravity of the situation deepens as the report uncovers that 30,000 children are trafficked each year, while countless teenage girls are forced into prostitution. Many of these children also end up in the illegal begging business and are exploited. These revelations expose the lack of urgency and action by both the police and society in addressing this horrifying issue. Exploiting innocent children by selling them or coercing them into illegal activities for profit is a monstrous crime that calls for immediate intervention. It is crucial to ramp up efforts to rescue these vulnerable children and bring the perpetrators to justice. Law enforcement must take swift, resolute measures to dismantle the networks enabling these atrocities.
A proactive and robust response from the police can instill fear in these criminals and halt their exploitation of more children. However, the frequent dismissal of missing children cases by law enforcement often leaves parents hopeless and desperate. Beyond this, it is imperative to eliminate practices like forced prostitution and child begging that rob children of their dignity and future. The Government of India must enact tougher legislation with harsher penalties for such crimes to ensure justice and deterrence. Establishing a specialized police unit to handle cases of missing and exploited children is essential for providing dedicated attention and resources to combat this grave issue effectively.
The future and freedom of India’s children must be safeguarded, and this starts with collective action, accountability, and an unwavering commitment to eradicating these heinous crimes.
