On the occasion of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, PADI, a grassroots child rights organisation, has initiated a decisive campaign against child trafficking in Dakshina Kannada, as part of the National Campaign Against Child Trafficking launched in New Delhi. The organisation aims to collaborate with the government, district administration, and child welfare stakeholders to create a safer environment for children in the district. As part of this campaign, extensive awareness programmes will be conducted, and vulnerable families will be linked to government welfare schemes to prevent children from falling prey to trafficking networks. PADI will also focus on taking legal action against identified traffickers. The National Campaign Against Child Trafficking was launched during a four-day national consultation in New Delhi, which brought together representatives from over 782 districts. Union Minister of State for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur inaugurated the consultation, emphasizing the importance of child protection and praising the efforts of civil society organisations in rescuing children from exploitation. Renni D’Souza, CEO of PADI, highlighted the gravity of child trafficking, stating that six children are trafficked every day, and five are forced into labour. He also emphasized that traffickers often lure children from economically vulnerable families with false promises, and PADI’s focus will be on preventing such instances and ensuring children’s safety.
PADI is a partner organisation of Just Rights for Children, a nationwide network of over 250 civil society organisations working to protect children’s rights and make India trafficking-free by 2030. Between April 2023 and December 2025, the collective efforts of these organisations resulted in the rescue of 122,516 children from trafficking across India, demonstrating the impact of coordinated legal action and community-based interventions. With this campaign, PADI aims to make Dakshina Kannada a safer place for children and contribute to the nationwide effort to combat child trafficking.
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📰 Source: Mangalorean News