Srinagar: Mission Vatsalya, under the Social Welfare Department (SWD), has facilitated the repatriation of a 16-year-old Bangladeshi minor who had been trafficked into Kashmir for child labour.
This landmark case marks the first such cross- border repatriation undertaken since the establishment of Mission Vatsalya in 2018.
The minor (name withheld), currently aged sixteen, was illegally brought into Srinagar through the Kolkata border by unidentified individuals and forced into child labour. Showing remarkable courage, the child later managed to escape and reached Budgam, where he was traced by the local police. The police produced the child before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Budgam, on 19 November 2023, in compliance with Section 31 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.
After due consideration, CWC Budgam ordered the child’s placement in a Child Care Institution (CCI) to ensure his safety, shelter, and well-being, and initiated a detailed inquiry into his background.
The matter was subsequently taken up with the Directorate of Mission Vatsalya, UT of J&K. Director, Mission Vatsalya, Nazim Zai Khan, directed the concerned authorities to expedite the repatriation process and personally supervised the proceedings.
On December 25, the minor was formally repatriated by officials of the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU), Budgam, with police escort from Police Station Budgam, and was safely reunited with his family in Banglade
Reiterating the department’s unwavering commitment, Director Mission Vatsalya stated that the department remains dedicated to safeguarding the rights, welfare, and best interests of every child. He emphasized the effective implementation of the principles enshrined in the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, particularly (xiii) Repatriation and Restoration, which affirms that every child in the juvenile justice system has the right to be reunited with their family at the earliest and restored to their original socio-economic and cultural status, unless such restoration is not in the child’s best interest.