Child trafficking is a serious problem that is prevalent especially in India. It is the children of the poor and marginalized communities who are often trafficked to be forced into labour.  In 2016, West Bengal reported the most children trafficked–3,113 or 34% of all–according to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data. Of these, 86% or 2,687, were girls.

In spite of India having stricter laws against child labour and trafficking yet, we see young girls and boys getting trafficked to different states across India. The same is true of this case of a young girl from Darjeeling, West Bengal.

On 1^st March 2021, the parents of 15 yrs old girl child came to the office of ADDSSS, a partner organization of Caritas India to seek help regarding their daughter who was taken by an agent to Hyderabad for vocational training in Beauty Parlour.

The family hails from one of the tea gardens of Darjeeling District, West Bengal. Due to the poor socio-economic background of the parents, the girl child dropped out of school after class 8^th. Consequently, the girl child wanted to work and contribute financially to her family. She was interested and was pursuing a beautician vocational training course. So, she joined the training and during the training course, she came across Kaaynath Hussain & Faisal owner of Beauty Parlour & Spa in Hyderabad.

The girl was lured by Kaaynath and Faisal in the name of a good job, a decent salary with luxurious facilities in Hyderabad. After a few days, Kaaynath convinced the girl’s parent and assured them of a good salary offer and a bright future. The minor and parent fell into the trap laid by him.

Employers of the Beauty parlour knew very well that she is minor, and her age is 15 years. They were also aware that if they take her for employment in other states, they might be in trouble.

Therefore, they played a trick and they made a training and placement legal agreement on the Non-Judicial Stamp paper in which they mentioned the girl’s age as 19 years completed. They also made a contract on Terms and Conditions is English and they convinced them to sign the agreement papers. As the parents of the girls are illiterate, they signed the contracts going by the words of the employer.

The Employer took the girl with them to Hyderabad just a few days after COVID – 19 Lockdown was announced by the government. She was not provided the things that were promised by Mr Kaaynath and she was forcefully made to stay with her employer.

In the month of February 2021, the girl called her parents and informed them that her employer didn’t fulfil what he had promised her parents, instead they used her in domestic chores at their home in Hyderabad. When the girl wanted to return to Darjeeling, the (Employer) started blackmailing her, that she had breached the contract and her family will have to pay a fine of Rs. 80,000- 90,000/ to employer otherwise a criminal case will be filed against the girl and her family. After hearing all such things from the daughter and employer, parents were worried and frightened about the legal consequences and future of their daughter.

After the parents came to ADDSSS and explained the situation, The Child Protection Officer (CPO) at ADDSSSS immediately connected with another organization at Hyderabad and planned a rescue operation. Within a day, the child was rescued, and legal charges were pressed against the Employer under section 75 and 79 of the JJ Act 2016.

The girl child has been reunited with her family. A regular follow up is being done for the Child’s safety by the program team and her family would be further linked with other social security schemes.

Caritas India works to create child-friendly and safe environment to prevent child labour and provide them with rehabilitation and development support. Currently, it’s implementing the Surokhit Shaishav Program in West Bengal through her partners and supported by Caritas Germany to strengthen Child Protection Systems and eliminate Child Labor in the state of West Bengal.

For Caritas India, Child protection is one of the priorities. While the programme focuses on prevention of child labour, marriage, sexual abuse and trafficking in the intervention areas, it also deals with the aspects of ‘rescue’, ‘restoration’ and ‘rehabilitation of the victims in close collaboration with the Government department – Labour, Directorate of Social Welfare, Childline, District child protection Unit and Police.