Despite curbs, spike in interventions after distress calls; state governments scramble to cope, many in Covid hotspots yet to set up monitoring systems
AS THE pandemic struck, and the government imposed a nationwide lockdown, the country woke up to countless images of migrant workers returning to their villages with their children, on cycles, buses, lorries and trains, many walking hundreds of kilometres. But as the economic distress began to sink in, a more sinister movement of children gathered pace — of those being taken away from their homes for illegal labour, trafficking and forced marriages.
