According to Global Slavery Index, over 18 million people are living with modern slavery in India. The numbers indicate the gravity of the human crisis where target are not only women and girls but boys too.

Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF), the official aid agency of Catholic Church in Scotland decided to launch their summer appeal on the theme Anti-Human Trafficking to help victims of trafficking. The appeal will raise awareness on the issue of Human Trafficking among the Scottish people and seek their support.

Mr. Valentine Morgan, Mr. Colin Paul and Ms. Charlotte Imbert from SCIAF visited Caritas India’s Anti-Human Trafficking programme in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh to meet the rescued children in shelter homes and also to interact with women in the community to understand the human trafficking issue between India and Nepal.

“Child Trafficking is a matter of great concern in the State of Utter Pradesh. Poverty is the main cause which pushes children to be trafficked for different purposes. 90 percent cases intervened by ChildLine are cases of Child Trafficking but these children are labeled by concerned authorities as ‘runaway children’”, informed Chairperson of Child Welfare Committee, Gorakhpur during the meeting.

Interview with the community members revealed that there are many human trafficking  cases which takes place at the borders in the name of false marriage, child labour and organ trade.

Caritas India plans to work in 30 villages of Uttar Pradesh on prevention and protection. They will raise awareness at the community, school and concerned government departments levels and also create livelihood opportunities through training and capacity building of women and youth in the near future.

The plan is to establish three interception booths at border areas of India and Nepal to monitor the trafficking activities in close coordination with border security force. Victims of human trafficking will be rescued and rehabilitated through referral mechanisms.