Trafficking of Young Born Children

Source-This post on Trafficking of Young Born Children has been created based on the article “Nipped in the bud” published in “The Hindu” on 2 June 2024.

UPSC Syllabus–GS Paper-2– Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections of the population by the Centre and States and the Performance of these Schemes and Issues relating to Poverty.

Context-The article highlights the issue of the recent inter-State baby smuggling racket busted by the Telangana police. An inter-State gang smuggled children from Delhi and Pune and sold them to prospective parents in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

What are the reasons behind the inter-state baby smuggling?

Criminal activities are often driven by a combination of socio-economic factors, such as poverty, wealth, and unmet needs or desires.

1)  Supply Side: –

A) Poverty often compels biological parents to sell their newborns for meager sums.

B) Newborns are also smuggled from government hospitals with lax security.

2)  Demand Side: –

A) Childless couples are eager to have children but face long waiting times (2-4 years) for legal adoption of children under two years.

B) The shortage of babies available for adoption has led to the demand seeking illegal supply avenues.

Read more- Human trafficking in India and anti-trafficking bill

What should be the way forward?

1)  Poverty Alleviation: –

A) The government should undertake effective poverty alleviation schemes

B) There should be the creation of employment opportunities for youth.

2)  Adoption Reforms: –

A) The government should generate awareness about adoption schemes for biological and adoptive parents.

B) The government should remove unnecessary bureaucratic processes in adoption.

3) Law Enforcement: Ensure effective policing to nip such plots in the bud

Children should not be treated as goods to be bought from the open market when there is a shortage.

Question for practice

What are the reasons behind the inter-state baby smuggling? What steps can be taken to address these issues?