At an age meant for classrooms, playgrounds, and family life, children and adolescents are being pushed into dangerous roles as carriers along the border.
West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya, and Mizoram together share nearly 4,000 kilometers of border with Bangladesh. Much of this vast stretch runs through rivers, forests, and remote terrain. In these difficult zones, the presence and movement of children involved in cross-border smuggling is increasingly reported.
This carrier system rests heavily on families living in deep economic distress. For many impoverished households, a child becomes a source of income. Smuggling promises quick money, and for families struggling to survive, it appears to be the easiest option.
Children are typically used to transport high-value, low-volume items such as gold, cash, and drugs. The demand for child carriers is high, driven by the belief that minors are less likely to face severe punishment or violence if caught.
Despite efforts by border security forces and several NGOs to rescue and rehabilitate these children, the cycle continues. Without meaningful economic development and livelihood opportunities for these families, there is little hope of ending this exploitation.
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