Traffickers are targeting vulnerable families and pushing their children into child labour in India. Some rescue workers and police went on a rescue mission. There were reports that they were in a slum in the eastern city of Purnia. The children ran and disappeared before they could be rescue due to the commotion.
Before their arrival, the police were attacked by a group of men. They arrested the man believed to be the ring leader of the trafficking. The trafficking is of children between 5 and 17 years. They work in the lotus seeds processing.
Due to Covid-19, parents have lost jobs. The traffickers identify such families and loan them money. Once they are unable to pay, they kidnap their children and traffic them. Bihar has the largest number of child trafficking. This is because, it is the largest lotus seeds producer. Children act as cheap labour.
Until the India government addresses poverty, children will always be at risk.
