ABSTRACT
This paper addresses the situation of human trafficking inIndia. It argues that the focus on trafficking either as an issueof illegal migration or prostitution still dominates the discourseof trafficking, which prioritizes state security over humansecurity and does not adequately address the root causes oftrafficking and the insecurity of trafficked individuals. The rootcauses or vulnerability factors of trafficking such as structuralinequality, culturally sanctioned practices, poverty or economicinsecurity, organ trade, bonded labor, gender violence, whichare further exacerbated by corruption, have remainedunrecognized in academic and policy areas. This paper arguesthat emphasis needs to be given to such underlying rootcauses and modes and also crimes related to humantrafficking, that threatens human security of the traffickedpersons in India. Accordingly, it provides some preventivemeasures to address and deal with the problem.