• UGI USER
  • Jun 03, 2024
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NIPPED IN THE BUD: ADDRESSING BABY TRAFFICKING

Syllabus:

GS 2:

  • Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections of the population by the Centre and States and the Performance of these Schemes.
  • Issues relating to Poverty and Hunger.

Why in the News?

The recent bust of an inter-state baby trafficking racket by Telangana police has exposed a vast and organized network smuggling babies from Delhi and Pune to southern states, highlighting severe socio-economic issues and inefficiencies in the legal adoption process.

 Source: Asean post

Socio-Economic Drivers of Criminal Activity

  • Economic Disparities: Baby trafficking, like many criminal activities, is driven by stark socio-economic disparities. On one end, there are individuals grappling with extreme poverty, and on the other, those with the wealth and desperation to pay significant sums for a child.
  • Recent Racket Bust: The recent bust of an inter-state baby smuggling racket by the Telangana police highlights the extent of these socio-economic drivers. The operation spanned several states, revealing a complex network of traffickers.
  • Operation Scale: This particular racket involved smuggling babies from cities like Delhi and Pune and selling them to prospective parents in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The scale of operations indicates a well-organized criminal enterprise.
  • Arrests and Operations: Law enforcement arrested 11 individuals linked to the smuggling of approximately 50 babies over the past year. This significant number underscores the urgency of addressing this issue.
  • Transactional Nature: Babies were bought from intermediaries in Delhi and Pune and sold at high prices to childless couples in southern states. The brokers netted commissions ranging from ₹50,000 to ₹1 lakh per transaction, highlighting the lucrative nature of this illegal trade.

Supply Side of Baby Trafficking

  • Poverty-Driven Supply: A major driver on the supply side is the poverty of biological parents. Many are compelled by economic desperation to sell their newborns for relatively small amounts of money.
  • Hospital Security Lapses: The smuggling often involves newborns from government hospitals, where security measures are insufficient. This vulnerability facilitates the procurement of babies by traffickers.
  • Recurring Offenses: Some members of the gang had previously been arrested for similar offenses, indicating a recurring issue that requires more stringent measures and continuous vigilance.
  • Procurement Methods: Further investigations are expected to reveal detailed methods used by traffickers to procure babies. These might include coercion, deceit, or exploiting vulnerabilities of impoverished parents.
  • Economic Desperation: The harsh realities of economic desperation among biological parents are a significant factor, compelling them to take such drastic steps to survive.

Demand Side of Baby Trafficking

  • High Demand for Babies: There is a considerable demand among childless couples for babies, which leads to the exploration of illegal avenues when legal options are deemed too slow or cumbersome.
  • Adoption Waiting Times: The legal adoption process is lengthy, often taking two to four years for a child under two years old. This extended wait time frustrates many prospective parents.
  • Unmet Desires: The strong desire to have children and the inability to do so legally and quickly drives some couples towards illegal procurement of babies.
  • Cost of Illegal Adoption: The illegal adoption market is lucrative, with prices ranging from ₹1.80 lakh to ₹5.50 lakh per baby. This high cost reflects the desperation and willingness of some to pay a premium for a child.
  • Impatience and Frustration: The bureaucratic delays and complexities associated with legal adoption contribute to impatience and frustration, pushing some towards illegal solutions.

Short-Term vs. Long-Term Measures

  • Short-Term Solutions: While arresting traffickers offers a temporary respite, it does not address the root causes of the problem. This highlights the need for a more sustainable and comprehensive approach.
  • Systemic Changes Needed: Long-term measures are required to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. This includes addressing both the supply and demand sides of the trafficking equation.
  • Addressing Poverty: Effective poverty alleviation schemes are essential to reduce the supply side of baby trafficking. Economic support and opportunities can dissuade parents from selling their children.
  • Employment Opportunities: Creating employment opportunities, particularly for the youth, can help mitigate the economic desperation that fuels trafficking.
  • Awareness Campaigns: Raising awareness about legal adoption processes among both biological and prospective adoptive parents can reduce the demand for illegal adoptions.

Government and Policy Actions

  • Streamlining Adoption Process: Simplifying and speeding up the legal adoption process is crucial. Removing unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles can make legal adoption more accessible and appealing.
  • Strengthening Security: Ensuring better security measures in hospitals to prevent the smuggling of newborns is vital. This includes implementing strict protocols and monitoring systems.
  • Enforcing Laws: Effective policing and stringent law enforcement are necessary to dismantle trafficking networks and deter potential traffickers.
  • Support for Biological Parents: Providing adequate support and resources to biological parents can help them avoid the need to sell their children. This includes financial aid, healthcare, and counseling.
  • Policy Integration: An integrated policy approach that addresses socio-economic issues, streamlines adoption processes, and strengthens law enforcement is required to tackle baby trafficking comprehensively.
Child Trafficking in India: Statistics

  • Daily Trafficking Rate: In 2021, eight children were trafficked daily in India for labor, begging, and sexual exploitation (NCRB).
  • Annual Cases: Recorded cases were 2,834 in 2018, 2,914 in 2019, and 2,222 in 2020.
  • Underreported Issues: These statistics only include confirmed trafficking cases, excluding missing children.
  • Awareness and Reporting: Cases often go unreported due to lack of awareness, reluctance to seek police help, and socio-economic deprivation.
  • Missing Children: Every eight minutes, a child goes missing in India, often ending up in domestic slavery, sex work, or forced labour.

Anti-Trafficking Laws:

1.  Lack of Composite Law: India lacks a comprehensive anti-trafficking law addressing prevention, protection, rehabilitation, and compensation.

2.  Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 (ITPA): Targets immoral trafficking and sex work but is criticized for assuming all trafficking is for sex work and criminalizing sex workers without adequate legal support or rehabilitation.

3.  Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006: Prohibits and penalizes child marriage.

4.  Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986: Prevents child labor in certain employments and regulates work conditions, with a 2016 amendment banning employment of children below 14, while allowing adolescents (14-18) to work in family businesses under non-hazardous conditions.

5.  Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976: Prohibits labor under conditions of servitude to pay off debt and provides a framework for rehabilitation.

6.  Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015: Governs laws relating to children in conflict with the law.

7.  Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994: Criminalizes commercial dealings in human organs.

8.  Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013: Revised Section 370 of the IPC to include human trafficking in the definition of slavery.

Way Forward

  • Poverty Alleviation: Implement comprehensive poverty alleviation programs to address the economic desperation that drives parents to sell their children.
  • Employment Opportunities: Create job opportunities, particularly for the youth, to reduce the financial pressures that contribute to baby trafficking.
  • Streamline Adoption Processes: Simplify and expedite the legal adoption process to reduce waiting times and make legal adoption more accessible and appealing.
  • Strengthen Hospital Security: Enhance security measures in government hospitals to prevent the smuggling of newborns, including better surveillance and monitoring systems.
  • Raise Awareness: Conduct awareness campaigns to educate both biological and prospective adoptive parents about legal adoption processes and the risks of illegal adoption.
  • Support Biological Parents: Provide financial aid, healthcare, and counseling to biological parents to help them keep and care for their children.
  • Effective Law Enforcement: Ensure stringent law enforcement and regular monitoring to dismantle trafficking networks and deter potential traffickers.
  • Integrated Policy Approach: Develop an integrated policy approach that involves government agencies, non-profits, and community organizations to address socio-economic issues, streamline adoption processes, and strengthen law enforcement comprehensively.

Conclusion

Combating baby trafficking requires addressing socio-economic disparities, streamlining legal adoption, and enforcing stringent security and law measures. A comprehensive, multi-faceted approach is crucial to eradicate this crime and protect vulnerable children.

Source:Indian Express

Mains Practice Question:

Discuss the socio-economic factors contributing to baby trafficking in India. What measures can be taken to address both the supply and demand sides of this issue effectively?

Associated Article:

https://universalinstitutions.com/global-slavery-index/