They may have lost their golden childhood, but a group of children rescued from being trafficked to neighbouring Gujarat for working in Bt cotton fields, now dream of a better, torture-free future
They may have lost their golden childhood, but a group of children rescued from being trafficked to neighbouring Gujarat for working in Bt cotton fields, now dream of a better, torture-free future.
Anil, 14, who was lured into leaving his home three years ago to work in a cotton field in Gujarat, told PTI, "Life was quite miserable there. Besides working hard for over 12 hours, we had to go through immense physical abuse on a regular basis."
"I will never like any child to suffer this," says Anil, who hails from a remote village in Rajasthan's Udaipur district.
The temptation of money, mobile phone and jeans was too much for Anil.
He says he was put up with 20 other children in a small tent and forced to spend the whole day in the field, pruning and pollinating cotton plants which require nimble fingers.
Vivek Garasiya, a 15-year-old boy from Galdav village of the district, has a similar story.
"I stayed there for five months, but was never in a good state of mind. I was missing my home all the time," he says.
Back in school after being rescued, Anil aspires to become a teacher while Vivek wants to be an activist and fight for the rights of children.
"I have lost my childhood, but I want to protect the childhood of my village friends," says Vivek.
Children transform into responsible youth and productive agents of change rather than losing hope after being victims of trafficking, said Dola Mahapatra, executive director of Child Fund (India), that is working for rescue and rehabilitation of such children in the region.
"We provide them adequate care and support and help them realise their potential. These children were victims of a huge racket in which more than 1,00,000 children were being trafficked from Udaipur district and its neighbouring areas to Gujarat to work in Bt cotton fields," he said.
According to Vijaya Laxmi Chouhan, chairperson of Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Udaipur, "Child trafficking was quite rampant until two years ago. The situation has improved now and the credit should go to the NGOs working for this cause.
"These children have already lost their golden childhood. Now, they should be encouraged to lead a life that is free from sufferings."
Mahapatra said rescuing is not just their focus. "Building confidence and creating a supportive environment for children to develop and aspire for a better future is what we do."
Kamlesh Garg, an activist of Gandhi Manav Kalyan Society, which works along with Child Fund in the region, said, "We have set up child clubs in all villages. The child members keep a vigil on the movements of middlemen and report to us."
According to 14-year-old Nagraj, who heads a child club in Gajvi village, they patrol through the night during the harvesting season.
"We hold meetings and try to educate others about the issue of trafficking," he said.
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