South Asia
Vanishing innocence | Epidemic of missing children
In India, the crisis of missing children is dire. Between 2018 and mid-2023, a staggering 2,75,125 children disappeared, averaging six children per hour. Alarmingly, 62,237 were boys, and 2,12,825 were girls. Out of these, only 240,502 have been found, leaving 34,623 children still missing. Dr Sangeeta Sharma reveals that many are abducted for ransom or sold into exploitation. This crisis is part of a global child trafficking epidemic, valued at $150 billion. Children are sold for adoption at prices ranging from $20,000 to $25,000, writes Biswajeet Banerjee