Relevance: GS II (Social Justice & Vulnerable Sections) & GS III (Internal Security) | Source: The Hindu
1. The Context: What is the news?
In a massive joint rescue operation, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) rescued 163 minor boys at Katni railway station in Madhya Pradesh.
- The Route: The children were allegedly being trafficked from Bihar to Maharashtra under the false pretext of religious education (madrasa admissions).
- The Action: The traffickers were arrested and officially booked under Section 143 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which specifically criminalizes human trafficking.
2. Constitutional and Legal Safeguards
Human trafficking is not just a statutory crime; it is a direct violation of fundamental constitutional rights:
- Article 23: Strictly prohibits “traffic in human beings” and forced labor (begar).
- Article 24: Prohibits the employment of children below 14 years in factories, mines, or hazardous jobs.
- Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act, 2015: This is the primary law for child protection in India. It mandates the creation of a Child Welfare Committee (CWC) in every district, which holds the final authority over the care, protection, and rehabilitation of rescued children.
3. Key Administrative Linkages
To combat this organized interstate crime, the government utilizes several specific frameworks:
- Mission Vatsalya: An umbrella scheme under the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) that funds child protection services, including shelter homes for rescued victims.
- TrackChild Portal: A national digital database used by the police to track missing children and help return rescued victims to their home states.
UPSC Value Box
| Key Body / Operation | Simple Meaning |
| Operation AAHT | A nationwide operation by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) to identify and rescue human trafficking victims across the Indian railway network. |
| NCPCR | National Commission for Protection of Child Rights. A statutory body that monitors child rights laws and can take direct (suo motu) action in massive trafficking cases. |
| BNS Section 143 | The new penal provision under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (replacing Section 370 of the old IPC) that deals with the offense of Trafficking of Persons. |
With reference to the legal and institutional framework against human trafficking in India, consider the following statements:
- Article 23 of the Indian Constitution explicitly prohibits traffic in human beings and forced labor.
- Operation AAHT is a nationwide initiative launched by the Ministry of Home Affairs specifically for border guarding forces to prevent cross-border trafficking.
- Under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) is the competent authority to deal with children in need of care and protection.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Correct Answer: (c)
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