Origin, Development, and Implementation of Article 23 of the Constitution of India: How Far We Have Achieved Abolition of Modern-Day Slavery

Human trafficking is a modern form of slavery, and it can be said that it is one of the worst kinds of human rights violations and millions of people are victims of it throughout the globe. Our forefather was conscious that abolition of human trafficking was much needed, and accordingly, they took a conscious effort from the constituent assembly. Article 23 was inserted in Constitution with narrow wordings under the impression that some form of modern-day celebrity will end soon. But facts remain the same even after seven decades of Independence; slavery in modern states is an undisputed fact in most countries. There is a lack of initiatives by all stakeholders. Legislatures failed in bringing adequate legislative reforms while the executive utterly failed in the implementation of the laws. The present regulatory framework is highly inadequate, which is reflected from the quantum of cases of modern-day slavery, be it sex trafficking or Labour trafficking transpires. Thus, we failed in fulfilling the dream of the forefather to make India free from modern-day slavery. To achieve such a goal, we need to have a comprehensive regulatory framework that requires this literary form and its practical implementation, considering every incident of trafficking is a violation of human rights. The victim shall be at the center of entire efforts undertaken by different stakeholders.