Concern for ‘undetected victims’ as trafficking cases fall
MUMBAI: Cases of human trafficking have fallen sharply according to new government data, but campaigners warned that the figures may not reflect the full magnitude of the crime.
South Asia, with India at its centre, is one of the fastest-growing regions for human trafficking in the world.
Thousands of people - largely poor, rural women and children - are lured to cities each year by traffickers who promise good jobs, but sell them into modern day slavery.
Figures released by India’s National Crime Records Bureau showed around 3,000 human trafficking cases were reported in 2017, a drop of around 60% from just over 8,000 recorded in 2016.
The data on trafficking, usually released annually, is seen as crucial to efforts by charities and organisations to stop the practise.
Campaigners said a drop in trafficking cases was to be expected partly due to increased vigilance spurred by government-backed awareness campaigns.
Campaigner Digvijay Kumar said, though, that traffickers had changed their tactics to circumvent authorities.
“Traffickers have changed their mode of operating, discarding known routes and finding new ones. In many cases, the police are not registering cases under trafficking laws,” said Kumar of anti-trafficking NGO Institute for Development Education and Action.
A spokeswoman for home affairs ministry said a series of government measures to address the crime of human trafficking had led to the drop in numbers.
Such measures included jointinitiatives by government ministries to stop those profiting from the crime and awareness campaigns to promote increased vigilance at railway stations and bus terminals, she added.
FIGURES SHOW AROUND 3,000 HUMAN TRAFFICKING CASES WERE REPORTED IN 2017, A DROP OF AROUND 60% FROM 2016