STOP participated in the state-level consultation “A Journey from Bondage to Freedom,” organized by the Society for Participatory Integrated Development (SPID) on 12 February 2026 at the Constitution Club of India, New Delhi. The consultation brought together government departments, statutory bodies, and civil society organizations to strengthen coordination on child protection, trafficking, and bonded labour, while also marking 50 years of the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976.
Representing STOP, Field Coordinator Poonam Choudhary attended the consultation and engaged in the discussions.
During the interactive session, STOP raised a key concern about the common practice of delaying the registration of FIRs in missing person cases for up to 24 hours. The question highlighted the risks such delays can create, particularly when a missing person may be vulnerable to trafficking or exploitation.
Responding to the query, Ridhima from the Special Police Unit for Women and Children (SPUWAC) noted that in some cases—such as elopement—the absence may be voluntary and the individual may return within a short time. J. B. Oli added that this possibility is one reason authorities sometimes wait before formally registering an FIR.
The consultation served as a platform for dialogue between government agencies and civil society on strengthening systems of protection. STOP used the opportunity to bring field-level concerns about delays in missing person cases into the discussion.
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