Human trafficking is one of the most heinous crimes, increasingly prevalent and devastating. According to India’s National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), over 6,500 human trafficking victims were identified in the country during 2022. Human trafficking exploits vulnerable individuals for forced labor, sexual exploitation, and various forms of abuse. While the government is taking active steps, a few individuals, like Pallabi Ghosh, make significant ongoing contributions to combat this issue.
Pallabi Ghosh, an Anti-Trafficking Activist and founder of the “Impact and Dialogue Foundation” (IDF), has been at the forefront of combating this menace. She has rescued over 10,000 individuals from human trafficking and has gone beyond that to give them a lease on life.
Early Experiences: Igniting the Drive to Act
Hailing from Assam, Pallabi Ghosh was 12 years old when she encountered the first case of child trafficking in her village. A girl went missing, and her father was howling in grief and fear. Pallabi learned of the incident and heard rumors in the village hinting that a stranger had taken the girl away. This revelation deeply impacted her at such a tender age and prompted her to seek answers about how young children vanished suddenly.
Then, one day at Guwahati railway station in Assam, Pallabi noticed that a few child beggars were fluently speaking Hindi. When she asked them where they belonged, they answered Bihar and Rajasthan. During her conversation with them, she learned that they had been trapped in this situation with the promise of a better life. These incidents deeply shocked her to her core and motivated her to work towards preventing this heinous crime.
In 2012, Pallabi came to Delhi for her graduation and became part of the NSS cell at Delhi University. Later, she pursued her master’s in gender studies in Chennai. After completing her studies, she joined the anti-trafficking NGO “Shakti Vahini.” During her time there, she gained substantial knowledge about child trafficking, discovering that around 2,000 children are trafficked in India every day. Through extensive research, she identified key reasons for trafficking, including poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, and a rise in the number of children in households. She found that traffickers often target girls for prostitution, bride trafficking, and forced marriage, while boys are primarily targeted for labor work.
Establishing Impact and Dialogue Foundation (IDF): A Call to Action
Then, the year 2020 came, and COVID-19 happened when she observed that children were exploited for organ harvesting and falsely declared as COVID-19 deceased. This revelation was a significant awakening, motivating her to step forward and rescue these children.
In the same year, she started her organization “Impact and Dialogue Foundation” (IDF), with the mission of creating a world free from human trafficking and modern slavery. IDF actively supports grassroots communities by preventing human trafficking, rescuing victims, and facilitating the rehabilitation of survivors. Moreover, the foundation empowers trafficking survivors by offering opportunities such as stitching, farming, and creating kitchen gardens.
The organization actively conducts Training of Trainers (ToT) sessions involving diverse social agencies and stakeholders, such as teachers, doctors, transportation staff, NGOs/CBOs/NPOs, government ministries, and corporate CSR teams, to enhance its capacity. IDF operates two centers—one in Lumding, Assam, and another in Canning, West Bengal. Additionally, it has an extra center in Lanka, Assam, dedicated to supporting survivors of domestic violence.
Empowering Through Action: IDF’s Initiative
Pallabi has rescued over 10,000 individuals, including children, youth, and women, so far. She conducts numerous interactive sessions, workshops, and training programs aimed at raising awareness about child rights, labor rights, human trafficking, and migration-related issues. Her activism spans across India and several international countries, where she passionately shares insights concerning the dangerous impacts of trafficking and forced labor.
Pallabi Ghosh got multiple accolades and recognitions for her thoughtful contribution. These include Young Emerging Leaders by Hindustan Times in 2013, Inspiring Individuals by Hindustan Times in 2016, Inspiring Women Leader by Eenadu in 2021, and many others.
Pallabi Ghosh’s unwavering dedication and tireless efforts stand as a beacon in the fight against human trafficking. Her journey from personal encounters to organizational leadership showcases a resolute commitment to creating a world free from exploitation and injustice.
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