Children from the state’s rural areas and from neighbouring states are increasingly vulnerable to trafficking due to a combination of socio-economic factors and systemic loopholes. Elaborating on this, Child Welfare Committee (CWC) Dimapur district member Lozhua Kape informed Nagaland Post that these children, often from remote villages within the state or neighbouring states, were brought to urban areas without legal documentation or formal procedures.
She said they were lured by promises of a better life, education, and sometimes even money, adding that in some cases, traffickers exchanged money for travel expenses, miscellaneous costs, or even as payments to the child’s family.
She mentioned that most of these students came from economically-deprived families, were non-Nagas, or served as domestic helpers, making them easy targets for traffickers. Claiming that the CWC played a crucial role in addressing these issues, Kape explained that although it did not directly intervene in trafficking cases, it was responsible for deciding the cases of children in need brought before it.
She pointed out that the committee, comprising a bench of magistrates, had the authority to dispose of cases involving care, protection, treatment, development, rehabilitation, restoration, and repatriation of children in need of care and protection (CNCP).
To support migrant families and ensure their children had stable access to education and social support, the CWC provided various forms of assistance for CNCP under the Juvenile Justice Act (JJA). This included arranging foster care, adoption, or placement in child care institutions (CCIs), linking children to various schemes and programs, and facilitating access to formal and non-formal education.
She stated that these efforts were coordinated through the Child helpline (1098) or the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU), ensuring comprehensive care for CNCP, addressing their physical, emotional, and educational needs.
Lamenting the absence of specific policies for monitoring and assisting migrant children at higher risk of trafficking, she however mentioned that several online platforms and portals were available to report and register missing children. Platforms like the Khoya Paya portal and Track Child portal provided mechanisms for reporting and tracking missing children, enabling authorities, organisations, and individuals to register and search them.
While there was no single comprehensive policy, these platforms helped fill the gap and offered crucial tools for addressing this critical issue. On the contribution of other stakeholders, Kape claimed that various departments were proactively creating awareness about these issues through multiple platforms. The Railway Protection Force (RPF), police, District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), CWC, DCPU, and Childline leveraged different channels to educate the public. These efforts aimed to inform and sensitise stakeholders, including children, families, and communities, about the support systems and resources available to address these critical issues.
Emphasising the role of parents and the community in safeguarding children, Kape maintained that it was essential for them to keep track of children migrating out of the village, colony, or ward to ensure their safety and well-being. By creating awareness within the community, she pointed out that they could promote a culture of vigilance and collective responsibility, ensuring that everyone was well-informed and alert.
Regarding the relationship between the school administrations and CWC, she acknowledged that while there was no direct relationship, the committee worked closely with schools to address CNCP-related issues that arose in schools.
According to her, the community must remain alert and vigilant, reporting any suspicious activities to the Police, DCPU, child helpline, women helpline, or any relevant department immediately, while maintaining records of children and youth moving out from their locality could also help in monitoring and safeguarding them.
Kape admitted that data collection on the number of children trafficked in a month or year remained a challenge. While the CWC had no direct role in collecting data, she said the police, DCPU, and the State Child Protection Society (SCPS) had some data. However, she claimed that many cases went unreported, making the data potentially inaccurate.
She claimed that the state government had taken significant steps to establish departments concerned and systems to combat child trafficking and protect vulnerable children. But, despite these efforts, she mentioned that several loopholes in effective implementation persist.
“It is crucial to recognise that government agencies alone cannot eradicate social issues. Collective action from the entire community and individual stakeholders is essential,” she said. Calling for collaboration and shared responsibility to address these problems and create a meaningful impact, she stressed that the gaps in implementation could be bridged by working together, bringing a positive change. Thus, despite the resources available, there were still gaps and requirements that needed to be addressed to ensure the well-being of all children.