Lok Sabha Question No. 3855 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-17
Subject: Child Trafficking
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Chirag Paswan, Keshari Devi Patel, Kanakmal Katara

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3855

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 17 TH  MARCH, 2020/ PHALGUNA 27, 1941 (SAKA)

CHILD TRAFFICKING

†3855.

SHRI CHIRAG KUMAR PASWAN: SHRIMATI KESHARI DEVI PATEL: SHRI KANAKMAL KATARA:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether incidents of child trafficking is on the rise in the country and if so, the details of the measures taken by the Government to check it;
- (b)  the  action  taken  by  the  Government  against  the  gangs  involved  in making  the  children  beg  or  sell  some  articles  at  road  crossings  in  the cities;
- (c) the number and other details of such cases which have come to light during each of the last three years;
- (d) the number of child labourers rescued from different companies during the years 2014 to 2019 and the steps taken for their rehabilitation;
- (e)  the measures taken to enroll the children who were found begging or selling articles on the roads in schools; and
- (f)  the  number  of  officers  against  whom  action  has  been  taken  for  their failure in checking child labour, State-wise?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a) & (b): The  National  Crime  Records  Bureau  (NCRB)  compiles  data  on human trafficking reported to it by States and Union Territories (UTs) and publishes  the  same in its annual  publication 'Crime in India'.    The latest

## L.S.US.Q.NO.3855 FOR 17.03.2020

published  report  is  of  the  year  2018.  The  figures  of  child  trafficking reported to NCRB by the States and UTs do not indicate any such trend.

'Police' and 'Public Order' are 'State' subjects under the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. Prevention and combating the crime of human trafficking is the responsibility of respective State Governments, who are competent  to  deal  with  the  same  under  the  extant  provisions  of  law. However,  the  Ministry  of  Home  Affairs  (MHA)  supplements  the  efforts  of State  Governments by  taking  various  initiatives  and  measures.  MHA  has provided  financial  assistance  to  States  for  setting  up  332  Anti  Human Trafficking  Units  in  various  districts  of  States.  MHA  provides  financial assistance  to  States  and  UTs  to  hold  'Judicial  Colloquiums'  and  'State level conferences' to bring awareness about issues relating to trafficking and  to  provide  information  on  various  provisions  of  law  to  the  judicial officers,  police  officials  and  other  stakeholders.    MHA  has  also  issued various advisories to States and UTs from time to time on preventing and combating the crime of human trafficking. These advisories are available at  MHA's  website  www.mha.gov.in.  Through  the  National  Investigation Agency  (Amendment)  Act,  2019,  the  Schedule  of  NIA  Act,  2008  was amended  and  National  Investigation  Agency  has  been  empowered  to investigate cases committed under Sections 370 and 370A of Indian Penal

## L.S.US.Q.NO.3855 FOR 17.03.2020

Code relating  to  Human Trafficking.   The  Government has also approved financial  assistance  to  States  and  UTs  for  setting  up/strengthening  Anti Human Trafficking Units  (AHTUs)  by  States and UTs  in  all  Districts  at  a cost of Rs.100 crore under Nirbhaya Fund. (c): Data, in the manner desired, is not reported to/ maintained by NCRB. (d): Specific  information  on  the  number  of  child  labourers  rescued  from different companies is not reported to/ maintained by NCRB.  However, in 2017, 1365 children were reported to be rescued from forced labour and 593 children were rescued in 2018.  Similarly, 31 children were reported to be  rescued from begging in 2017 and 18  children were rescued  in 2018. NCRB has started collecting this data from the year 2017. (e): The  Ministry  of  Labour  &  Employment  has  informed  that  they implement the National Child Labour Project (NCLP) Scheme for rehabilitation of child labourers. Under the NCLP, children in the age group of  9  to  14  years  are  rescued/  withdrawn  from  work  and  are  enrolled  in NCLP Special Training Centres where they are provided bridge education, vocational training,  mid-day meal, stipend, health care, etc. before being mainstreamed into formal education system. Children in the age group of 5 to 8 years are directly linked to formal education system. (f): This data is not maintained by NCRB.

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