Over 14.2 million people in India victims of ‘modern slavery’, claims report

Mumbai: As shocking as this may sound, but it is true that almost two-thirds of the global total number of people or an estimated 35.8 million men, women and children around the world are trapped in modern slavery, according to the 2014 Global Slavery Index (GSI) published by the Walk Free Foundation (WWF).

This enslavement is through human trafficking, forced labour, debt bondage, forced or servile marriage, or commercial sexual exploitation.

Of the 35.8 million enslaved, over 14.2 million are in India and over 2.05 million are in Pakistan. Together, both the countries represent 45 per cent of the global total, according to the report.

The other countries in South Asia that have disturbing numbers are Nepal (0.823 per cent of the population, 228,700 people), Bangladesh (0.435 per cent, 680,900), Afghanistan (0.435 per cent, 132,800) and Sri Lanka (0.359 per cent, 73,600).

Though, India has strengthened its criminal justice framework and made amendments to slavery laws, there is a lot that needs to be done.

The highest proportion of slavery of its population is in Mauritania at 4 per cent followed by Uzbekistan (3.97 per cent), Haiti (2.3 per cent), Qatar (1.36 per cent) and India (1.14 per cent.)

India remains top of the list with an estimated 14.29 million enslaved people, followed by China (3.24mn), Pakistan (2.06mn), Uzbekistan (1.2mn, new to the top five), and Russia (1.05mn). Together these account for 61 per cent of the world’s modern slavery, or nearly 22 million people.

The countries with the lowest proportion of people in slavery Iceland, Luxembourg and Ireland.

WWF chairman, Andrew Forrest said, “There is an assumption that slavery is an issue from a bygone era, or that it only exists in countries ravaged by war and poverty. These findings show that modern slavery exists in every country.”