Handicraft units under lens for child labour

Jaipur: 15-year-old Pooja (name changed), who went missing from her house in Kota in 2014, was finally traced and rescued by the teams of Anti Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) from Bundi where she was held captive by a truck driver.

Pooja was one of the several minors who were rescued by AHTU officials during Operation Milap. Such cases have compelled AHTU to cast its dragnets in handicraft units, highway eateries and other small units where children could be employed.

"Rajasthan is primarily a receiver state where children are brought from other states like Bihar. But, it is also true that some children of Rajasthan are sent to work in Gujarat, or within the state to work in bangle factories, etc," said an official of AHTU, adding that it is not known if were forced into drudgery or were sent to work by their parents due to economic deprivation.

"We have also learnt that not all cases of missing children can be counted in the category of human trafficking, there are cases of elopement, and run-away kids which also make into the list of missing minors," said an official.

The AHTU officials said that they have rescued as many as 583 minors from beggary. However, the cops said that success of these operations ultimately rests on an effective rehabilitation programme.

"Apart from rescuing the kids, the real challenge is proper rehabilitation, else it become as vicious cycle where we rescue the minors but they again get into labour," said the official.