Vigilance Against Exploitation: On Menace of Human Trafficking in Northeast India

Law enforcement agencies, officials and human rights activists have been repeatedly warning about the worrying prevalence of human trafficking activities in Northeast India and that the region has become a major source and transit hub for such illegal operations. By now, most people must be aware of the seriousness of the issue from awareness created by government agencies and NGOs. But sadly, it seems to have not made a noticeable impact, as reports of missing children continue to make the headlines. Most recently, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) under the Northeast Frontier Railway announced that it had rescued 10 minor children during a series of coordinated routine surveillance drives conducted at Dimapur, Agartala, Kishanganj and Alipurduar railway stations last month, all within just six days. However, this is not an isolated incident. The frequency with which such cases are reported raises concerns about the potential existence of unreported incidents and the need to address the issue with urgency. We should also retrospect and ask why awareness created by government agencies, NGOs and civil societies has not made a significant impact in the region. Are the people of the region too gullible, or is it a matter of utter carelessness and negligence? Perhaps the awareness programmes have failed to reach vulnerable groups, particularly those living in rural areas. There are more questions than answers. Most likely, trafficking networks continue to thrive in the region due to a general lack of awareness among the local population.

The fact remains that people from the north-eastern region, particularly women and children, are more vulnerable to exploitation due to a complex interplay of socio-economic and geographical factors. Traffickers are exploiting widespread poverty and lack of employment opportunities in the region, luring young boys and girls into immoral activities like prostitution, forced labour, organ trafficking, forced marriage, etc. on the pretext of providing jobs. The perpetrators also extensively used social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat; games and messaging apps; etc. to contact underage victims and employ various deceptive tactics, including fraudulent job offers and false relationships. Many unsuspecting people, particularly youngsters, fall victim to these strategies. This menace is widespread and must be stopped once and for all. We can protect children and teenagers from fraudsters and traffickers by monitoring their online activities, listening to them, and providing support. However, it is important to recognise that anyone can become a victim. Vigilance is essential; we must spread awareness to those around us and report warning signs to potentially save someone's life.