Mission Vatsalya Facilitates Repatriation of Bangladeshi Minor Trafficked into Kashmir for Child Labour
In a significant development, Mission Vatsalya, operating under the Social Welfare Department (SWD), successfully facilitated the repatriation of a 16-year-old Bangladeshi minor who had fallen victim to trafficking into Kashmir for exploitative child labor.
This groundbreaking case represents the maiden cross-border repatriation initiative undertaken by Mission Vatsalya since its inception in 2018, as highlighted in an official press release.
The unnamed minor, currently aged sixteen, was illicitly transported to Srinagar via the Kolkata border by unidentified perpetrators and subjected to forced child labor. Displaying exceptional bravery, the minor managed to escape and eventually reached Budgam, where local law enforcement identified him. Subsequently, the police presented the minor before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Budgam, on November 19, 2023, in accordance with Section 31 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. Following due deliberation, CWC Budgam ordered the minor’s placement in a Child Care Institution (CCI) to ensure his safety, shelter, and overall well-being, initiating a comprehensive investigation into his background.
The case was subsequently escalated to the Directorate of Mission Vatsalya, UT of J&K.
Director of Mission Vatsalya, Nazim Zai Khan, issued directives to streamline the repatriation process and personally oversaw the proceedings. On December 25, officials from the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU), Budgam, accompanied by police personnel from Police Station Budgam, formally repatriated the minor, ensuring his safe return to his family in Bangladesh. Director Mission Vatsalya reiterated the department’s unyielding commitment to safeguarding the rights, welfare, and best interests of every child. He underscored the imperative implementation of the tenets enshrined in the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, with a specific emphasis on (xiii) Repatriation and Restoration, emphasizing every child’s entitlement in the juvenile justice system to reunification with their family expeditiously and restoration to their original socio-economic and cultural milieu, unless such reinstatement is deemed detrimental to the child’s well-being.
These concerted efforts signify Mission Vatsalya’s unwavering dedication to combating child trafficking and promoting child welfare in the region.
