Gujarat : 91 Trafficked Children Rescued from Surat Textile Units in Major Multi-State Operation

Surat | Gujarat —In one of the most disturbing child labour revelations in recent years, authorities have rescued 91 trafficked children from textile units in Surat, exposing a deeply organised inter-state trafficking network that allegedly exploited minors as young as seven for long hours of forced labour.

The large-scale rescue operation was conducted following intelligence provided by Gayatri Seva Sansthan (GSS) and executed jointly by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), Anti Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU), Rajasthan Police officials, Surat’s Puna Police Station, and child protection organisations including Association for Voluntary Action and GSS under the Just Rights for Children network.

The children, aged between 7 and 14 years, were reportedly trafficked primarily from tribal regions of Rajasthan, with a few victims also from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand. Officials confirmed that traffickers and employers managed to flee during the raids, while legal action has been initiated.

Children Led Rescue Teams to Hidden Units

Shockingly, officials said the rescued children themselves helped guide teams to other concealed locations where more minors were being held and forced into labour.

Dr. Shailendra Pandya, Director of Gayatri Seva Sansthan, described the scene as distressing. “They led us to a building locked from the outside. Inside, we found children as young as seven working nonstop for more than 12 hours a day. They were exhausted, frightened, and completely deprived of basic dignity,” he said.

He added, “One child, barely eight years old, was shirtless and hiding behind others. He quietly asked for a shirt. That moment reflects the extreme level of neglect and exploitation.”

Locked Inside, Forced Into Long Working Hours

Preliminary findings suggest that employers deliberately structured the operation to avoid detection. Children were reportedly brought early in the morning and locked inside units, which were only opened after 7 p.m. once work concluded.

Authorities also discovered that many children were housed in cramped conditions, with 12 to 15 minors sharing small rooms in nearby colonies.

Some children told officials their parents were aware of their migration for work, while younger victims said they were misled with promises of travel or “excursions” before being forced into labour.

Among the rescued were two brothers aged 8 and 10 from Udaipur’s tribal belt in Rajasthan. Investigators also found that while some children had been working for up to four years, others had arrived only recently.

Call for Stronger Action Against Trafficking Networks

Ravi Kant, National Convenor of Just Rights for Children, called the case a wake-up call. “This rescue exposes a highly organised trafficking system operating across states. Vulnerable children are being deceived, transported, and exploited in complete violation of their rights,” he said.

He urged stronger inter-state coordination, stricter monitoring of supply chains, and tougher accountability for traffickers and employers involved in child exploitation.