The Evil Of Sex Trafficking In India

Sex trafficking means forcing someone to have sex in return of some kind of payment. It includes prostitution, pornography and sexual performances done in exchange of items such as money, drugs, shelter, food or clothes. In some places the victims are even subjected to both labour and sex.

Victims includes both boys and girls but majorly girls in our country. The victims are exploited by the traffickers who earn money from the buyers. The victims were especially lured in most of the cases for job opportunities or for some kind of work or the traffickers may arrange fake marriages. They take the girl to a far of state from her home-state or to other countries. The traffickers use violence, fear, threats and intimidation to supress the victims and ensure compliance and demand.

In most of the cases rescue operations start very late as the family thinks that their child has gone for a job or is living happily after marriage. Most of the rescue operations start due to non-contact of the missing person for a long time.

India is not only a source but also a destination for sex trafficking since long. Women and girls, mainly from Nepal, Bangladesh, Europe, Central Asia, Africa, and Asia, including Rohingya and other minority populations from Burma, are subjected to sex trafficking in India. According to millions of women and children are victims of sex trafficking in India. Prime destinations for both Indian and foreign female trafficking victims include Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, Gujarat, Hyderabad, and along the India-Nepal border; Nepali women and girls are increasingly subjected to sex trafficking in Assam, and other cities such as Nagpur and Pune.

Due to some corrupt law enforcement officials the traffickers and other people who are involved remains untouched by law. These officials also help the traffickers to evade any kind of rescue operations. In return the corrupt officials may take bribes from the sex traffickers and sexual services from victims.

The problem of sex trafficking is becoming serious day by day. We have to teach people especially the youths to identify the warning signs. We have to erase the social stigma prevailing in the society about prostitution. The victims should be helped and not judged or punished. Sex trafficked children are subjected to drug abuse, alcohol abuse, domestic violence, delinquency, teenage pregnancy, STDs, abortion and other worse things. The health conditions of sex trafficked victims are not taken care of as a result not only do a large number of them suffer from terminal diseases like AIDS but also, they are not treated properly for the diseases. Our country is ranked as a ‘tier 2’ country for sex trafficking by the United States Department of State Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons.