The survey was conducted as a pilot project covering six districts, namely, North and South 24 Parganas, Nadia, Murshidabad, South Dinajpur and Jalpaiguri. It was based on on versions of women who had returned home after escaping the trafficking net.

While it is a fact that trafficking forms a well-entrenched network that extends across states and even international territories, the report has “quantified” the flow from each district to the destinations.

A large percentage of women are lured to other states with the promise of marriage or lucrative jobs. They end up being used as cheap labour in other states.

“In recent times, a large number of girls from Bengal are getting married in states like Haryana where the male-female sex ratio is low. After their marriage, they serve as domestic helps and farm hands,” said Sharbani

Bhattacharya, a member of the state women commission.