Tedious process, high demand and low supply attributing in child trafficking rackets in Nagpur
Nagpur: The tedious process of adoption coupled with a classic ‘high demand and low supply’ crises are attributing to the rampant child trafficking rackets in the Second Capital of the State, according to experts.
Gold Rate
11 April 2025
Currently, a total of 53 children (0-6 age category), from five different Government affiliated orphanages, are set for adoption in Nagpur district. Out of these 53 children, 30 are girls and 23 are boys, revealed the data procured by Nagpur Today from District Child and Women Development (CWD).
Senior sources from District CWD informed Nagpur Today that, most applicants prefer children between 0-2 age category and the average time it takes to complete the motion is nearly 2 years. However, recent pandemic has exacerbated this grim situation, perhaps, attributing it to such scenarios, sources said.
Nagpur Police have been on their toes to curb the menace of child trafficking rackets. This year, Nagpur cops have exposed four incidents related to child trafficking rackets flourishing in the city and arrested 21 persons in this connection. Of these four cases, one each was reported in Pachpaoli (2 arrest), Wathoda (5 arrest), Sitabuldi (5 arrest) and Sadar (9 arrest). In 2021, only one case was reported under Kotwali Police Station where five accused were arrested, according to the data obtained from Nagpur Crime Branch.
Senior sources of Nagpur Police confirmed the tedious process and ‘high demand and low supply’ theory behind the flourishing rackets of child trafficking.
“The applicants are not ready to wait for a tedious process, which in some cases can extend till 3-4 years. The accused, during the interrogation, confessed their crimes and informed us that while their application was in thousands at the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) portal, and in hundreds at State Adoption Resource Agency (SARA). We can’t wait till our old age to raise a child, we want the happiness of raising our child while we are young, they lamented,” sources said.
Notably, from September 1, District Magistrates (DM) have been empowered to issue adoption orders instead of courts. All cases pending before courts have to be transferred. Hundreds of adoptive parents in the country are now concerned that the transfer process will further delay what is already a long and tedious process. There are questions whether an order passed by the executive will pass muster when an adopted child’s entitlements on succession and inheritance are contested before a court.
The Parliament passed the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Amendment Bill, 2021 in July last year in order to amend the Juvenile Justice Act (JJ Act), 2015. The key changes include authorising District Magistrates and Additional District Magistrates to issue adoption orders. This was done “in order to ensure speedy disposal of cases and enhance accountability,” according to a recently issued government statement. The District Magistrates have also been empowered under the Act to inspect child care institutions as well as evaluate the functioning of district child protection units, child welfare committees, juvenile justice boards, specialised juvenile police units, child care institutions etc.
-Shubham Nagdeve
