12-year-old boy who survived trafficking becomes Bengal child rights body chairperson for one hour

Traffickers should be made to bear all education expenses of the victim, the boy said in a letter

In a unique initiative, a 12-year-old boy, a survivor of child trafficking, was made the Chairperson of the West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights (WBCPCR) for an hour.

WBCPCR officials said that the boy was rescued from North Bengal and was made the chairperson of the child rights panel on Friday. They also said that the reason behind the initiative was to provide the boy a platform to share his valuable experience and views on the issue of child trafficking.

“He was rescued by the Childline NGO with the help of police. The traumatic experience did not dampen his spirit. Now he got a new lease of life. He was made the Chairperson of WBCPCR on the International Day against Trafficking on July 30 to share his experience,” the official said.

The feisty child was in no mood to spend his one hour as WBCPCR chairperson sitting idle. He shot off a letter to the State’s Woman and Child Welfare Minister Sashi Panja as the WBCPCR chairperson stating that the State Government must ensure free education for all the children to secure their future.

He demanded stringent action and a hefty fine against those involved in human trafficking and child labour adding that they should be made to pay all the education expenses of the victim. Pointing out that many children are forced to resort to child labour due to the poverty at home, he stated that the State Government should sponsor their education so they don’t have to drop out of school.

The boy argued that cigarette and gutkha factories be closed and schools set up in their places.

His suggestions to the State Government were not just limited to penal measures against human traffickers but also focused on boosting awareness among children to ensure that they interact with strangers or accept anything from them.

WBCPCR officials said that the boy, currently studying in class VII, wants to be a commando and rescue trafficked children. He is currently under the custody of WBCPCR and a fan of the football icon Lionel Messi.