The rescue of an 11-year-old girl from the Banchhada community in Madhya Pradesh has triggered renewed demands for immediate government intervention to combat entrenched trafficking and generational prostitution practices in parts of the state.
The rescue operation, carried out with the support of local police and activists, has drawn attention to the plight of minor girls allegedly groomed for exploitation within sections of the Banchhada community, primarily concentrated in Ratlam, Mandsaur and Neemuch districts.
Dr. Abraham Mathai, Founder-Chairman of Harmony Foundation, described the incident as “heart-breaking” and said the case reflects a deeply rooted system where the birth of a girl child is celebrated because she is seen as a future source of income through prostitution.
He praised NGO worker Shyam Kamble of Exodus India Foundation and the Ratlam Police led by Superintendent of Police Amit Kumar for the rescue effort, calling it an important step in protecting vulnerable children.
According to activists working in the region, prostitution in parts of the community operates as a family-based and hereditary practice, with girls allegedly prepared from an early age for exploitation. Concerns have also been raised about reports of newborn girls being purchased from impoverished families and later pushed into the flesh trade.
Survey of Banchhada Settlements Demanded
Calling the situation “organised crime with societal approval,” Mathai urged the Madhya Pradesh government to launch an extensive survey of Banchhada settlements, identify and rescue all minor girls at risk, and prosecute traffickers and middlemen under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act.
He further appealed to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and the Ministry of Women and Child Development to initiate a nationwide review of communities where child trafficking and forced prostitution are allegedly normalised.
Child rights advocates say the latest rescue highlights the urgent need for coordinated intervention involving law enforcement agencies, rehabilitation programmes, education access and long-term economic support for vulnerable families.
The Harmony Foundation stated that it will continue working with police authorities and local activists to identify at-risk minors and support rehabilitation efforts aimed at restoring safety, education and dignity to rescued children.
Press Release | Harmony Foundation
