Exposing a dangerous child trafficking network, 91 minor children, mainly from Rajasthan, were rescued from three textile units in Surat. The operation, based on intelligence from Gayatri Seva Sansthan in Rajasthan, involved a joint effort by various authorities and organizations. The rescued children, aged between 7 and 14 years, were mostly trafficked from tribal areas in Rajasthan, with a few from other states.
Both the Association for Voluntary Action and Gayatri Seva Sansthan are part of Just Rights for Children, the country’s largest child protection network with over 250 partner organizations. Legal proceedings are underway as traffickers and employers fled during the raids. The rescued children are now under the care of the Child Welfare Committee in Surat.
During the rescue operation, the children themselves guided the teams to additional locations where more children were found working. Employers used deceptive tactics to avoid detection, such as locking younger children inside the buildings until late evening. The rescued children were living in overcrowded conditions, with multiple children sharing small rooms in nearby colonies.
Preliminary investigations revealed that some children had been working in the units for years, while others were recently brought from their hometowns. This rescue operation highlights the urgent need for stronger coordination between states to combat organized child trafficking and labor exploitation. Authorities emphasize the importance of continuous monitoring of supply chains and holding traffickers and employers accountable for exploiting children.
