The phenomenon needs to be understood from the macro perspective. According to a study reported in The Hindustan Times in March 2003, the number of migrant tribal girls from Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal was nearly two lakhs. The distribution of these girls across major cities is given in the side table.

In subsequent three years the estimated number of migrants /

trafficked girls to Delhi alone for domestic work has risen to over one lakh. Since the number in the other cities is also growing, one can conjecture that the overall number of migrants/trafficked girls is by now three lakhs or more. It is important to understand the size of this problem in terms of money and the modus operandi of this migration-trafficking.

During the last few years, large numbers of tribal girls (including 40% who are below 14 years) are being brought by a chain of agents. The first agent collects girls from villages and arranges their movement till the nearest big cities such as Ranchi and Kolkata. Recently the agents have started giving advances to parents to bring daughters including minor daughters for domestic work.  From there a second agent takes them to major destinations such as Delhi and hands them over to Placement Agencies for a commission ranging from Rs. 1000-3000 per head. The Placement Agencies in turn collect a registration fee of Rs. 2000-3000 or two month’s salary of the girl to provide placement service for eleven months, on the condition that the monthly salary will be paid to the Agency. The employers keep these girls as virtually bonded labour.