23 June 2007 witnessed the release of 9 children from being trafficked in Jharkhand to Murdabad, Uttar Pradesh. Chatra district of Jharkhand is the most trafficking prone area. Children are trafficked for forced labour and child labour. Most often children are made to work in homes, roadside eateries and in various small-scale industries. 

Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) activists were keeping an eye on this area from weeks. On Saturday, 23 June, they got information that children were going to board the train in night. BBA activist with the support from police, local media and Mr. Dinesh Toppo, Sub-Divisional Magistrate were able to rescue 9 children from the clutches of traffickers.

All the children rescued are below 14 years of age. The trafficker Mohammad Istikar Alam managed to escape but two of his assistants were caught. They are in police custody for further investigation.

After investigating it was found that the children belonged to Virhore tribal community One of the most disadvantaged and impoverished communities, lacking even the basic resources like schools, health and employment. There are many government provisions for the development of this community, but due to high corruption none has trickled down to the needy families. The situation is so grave that desperate parents are tricked into sending their children to far off places in lieu of an advance.

When these children united with their parents, the news of their rescue and return spread like wild-fire. Many parents after hearing this came to BBA activists to lodge complaint about their missing children. They informed that the traffickers came to their villages and gave them Rs. 200 as advance and promised more money after their child found employment. After sending their children, they narrated that they had lost touch with them and did not know where the children were. Some parents have been unable to trace their children for years.

This rescue operation reveals plight of the parents who are lured by the traffickers for paltry sums of money and the failure of government development policies, which never reached the needy ones. The question which still remains unanswered is what was the mistake of these children why because of the government malfunctioning and corruption they have to suffer and give up their life and education? BBA demands immediate action on the incompetence of government department to combat child trafficking for forced labour.