India Today's Special Investigation Team (SIT) embarked on a profound journey to unearth the unsettling reality of child trafficking in the often-overlooked regions of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. This clandestine epidemic, festering silently beneath the surface, remains a pressing concern, with incidents rarely garnering attention until they force their way into the headlines.
Delving deep into the heart of these remote landscapes, India Today's investigative reporters pursued a trail of leads that led them to the grim reality of young girls' innocence being commodified in the face of relentless poverty.
In the quaint village of Ramnagar in Rajasthan, our undercover journalists encountered Lakhan, a sinister middleman deeply entrenched in this abhorrent trade. Lakhan, compelled by desperation, shared chilling insights into a community ravaged by economic hardships. When asked about the extent of this tragedy, Lakhan shockingly confessed, "Many girls in the village, at least 50 to 60 of them." He brazenly extended an invitation to introduce the journalists to these vulnerable girls and negotiate deals with their parents.
These transactions, cloaked in deceit, often masquerade as legitimate contracts, with the girls being presented as performers, singers, and dancers for hotels and restaurants. "We write that they are sent off as singers and dancers. But she will do everything else. In writing, we only mention she’s engaged in singing and dancing. That’s just a cover in case the police inquire. We will not send them forcibly. Everything will be done with the consent of their parents, who will be paid for it," revealed Lakhan.
As the day unfolded, Lakhan led our reporters to two potential victims – minor girls under the custody of their uncle, Jitendra, who brazenly demanded Rs 6 to 7 lakh for each of these underage teens, bound by a one-year contract. "These two girls," Jitendra pointed out, "They are around 15-16 years old. There will be notarized contracts so that there are no further issues. Keep them for a year and pay me Rs 6-7 lakh (per girl)."
The situation took an even darker turn in Adalwara village in Sawai Madhopur, where the reporters uncovered the shocking complicity of parents in this sinister trade. Tano, a mother from Adalwara, offered two of her daughters for sale, each for a price of Rs 3 lakh. Her heartbreaking confession was, "I want to sell her because I want to get my house built."
In the remote Jaisinghpura village in Rajasthan's Tonk district, Ravi, an uncle, unapologetically offered to sell his underage nieces for Rs 1.7 lakh each.
The grim exploration continued in Madhya Pradesh, where India Today's SIT visited Borkhedi village in Neemuch district. Here, Vijay shamelessly offered to exchange his 16-year-old sister for Rs 3 lakh per month, disguising the transaction as a loan agreement on paper. He chillingly stated, "She will perform the job effectively without displaying any tantrums. She can either be sent to four clients in a day or to a single one for the whole night," all while emphasizing that the girl's name wouldn't be mentioned in the fraudulent contract.
Moving to Bardia village in Neemuch, Bablu introduced a minor girl as a member of his family, nonchalantly stating that more like her are "available." He brazenly declared, "Four-five like her will be made available. She’s from the family. I will quote the price in an hour."
In Pipliya Jodha village in Ratlam district, Kiran, also known as Neha, shockingly offered her own niece for Rs 2 lakh per month, emphasizing the familial connection and revealing, "She’s my sister’s daughter, from the same family and not anyone from outside. I will take the payment, which will be Rs 2 lakh."
The harrowing statistics paint a grim picture, highlighting that child trafficking is a persistent plague on the nation. In 2021, India recorded a staggering 59,544 cases of missing minor girls, representing a disheartening 30.8 percent increase from the previous year. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, human trafficking cases in the same year surged to 2,189, with a distressing 2,877 of the victims being innocent children. This sobering reality underscores the urgent need for concerted efforts to combat this insidious crisis that thrives in the shadows of our society.
