The West Bengal government as well as some NGOs have started taking steps to combat the upward trend in crimes against children in the state. The latest National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) said that West Bengal had registered 7004 crimes against children in 2016, the 5th highest number in the country. Uttar Pradesh is on the top of the list with 15 per cent followed by Maharashtra (14), Madhya Pradesh (13), Delhi (8) and West Bengal (6).

Nearly 20 crimes are committed against children every day in the state. West Bengal shows upward trend in crimes related to kidnapping, child trafficking and sexual offenses against children, and these consist of over 90 per cent of crimes against children in the state. The state accounted for 7004 recorded crimes against children of which 4178 crimes were registered under kidnapping and human trafficking from neighbouring countries. Besides, 2132 crimes were booked under POCSO Act, which included rape and sexual assault, as per NCRB data.

West Bengal tops the list in human trafficking of minors for prostitution, which stood at 53.3 per cent (highest in the country) registering a 17 per cent growth from 2012 to 2016. In trafficking of minor girls, the state records 27 per cent, second highest in the country registering a growth of 47.7 per cent from 2012 to 2016. In kidnapping and abduction together, the state records 6.6 per cent, fifth highest in the country. West Bengal also records six per cent crimes under POCSO, fourth highest in the country.