Published Paper Details:

Human trafficking remains one of the most persistent and inhumane violations of basic human rights in India. This exploitative practice spans forced labour, sexual slavery, and illicit organ trade, targeting the most vulnerable segments of society under the guise of poverty, gender disparities, and systemic inefficiencies. Despite the presence of multiple legal safeguards--including the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 (ITPA) , Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC), and several child welfare statutes--India continues to face formidable obstacles in effective enforcement, victim assistance, and long-term rehabilitation. This research delves into the prevailing scenario of human trafficking in India, assessing the strengths and shortcomings of the existing legal instruments while investigating the social and economic realities that enable trafficking networks to thrive. It exposes the disconnect between legislative intent and ground-level implementation, bringing to light issues such as corruption, lack of training, poor inter-agency coordination, and insufficient digital literacy. Furthermore, the paper underscores the inefficacy of current rehabilitation models, which often overlook psychological recovery and socio-economic reintegration of survivors. Emphasizing that laws alone are not enough, the study advocates a comprehensive and survivor-oriented response, involving stronger community engagement, capacity building, and policy coherence. Drawing insights from judicial pronouncements, governmental findings, and NGO experiences, this paper presents actionable recommendations aimed at building a robust and empathetic anti-trafficking framework. It ultimately argues for an integrated response involving the state, civil society, and communities to truly dismantle the invisible chains of human trafficking.