How alert are you to the growing problem of trafficking in India?

Do you know that the menace can be effectively handled through convergence of efforts of the governments and civil society organizations.

Are you a government servant or a member of a concerned organization?

How abreast are you with the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Bill 2012, which has been passed by our Parliament? Will it go a long way in combating this problem due to the provisions included in the Bill, which link trafficking with protecting children from sexual offenses?

Must you know that sufficient legislative and programmatic framework already exists to prevent and combat trafficking!

But, whereas the framework for prevention, protection and penalization is already in place, strengthening of systems for their effective implementation is needed to combat this problem. Rise. Make Efforts. Speak Up. Shout.

DON’T EXPLOIT… PROTECT… Please.

According to Neela Ganagadharan, Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development, the efforts of the civil society organizations, many of whom have been working extensively in this area, have indeed helped to combat the problem.

Now, she is thus inviting suggestions and recommendations from the representatives of the Central and State governments, UNICEF, NGOs and other experts to strengthen the legislative and monitoring measures to combat trafficking. Will you contribute?

May you also know that one Ujjwala Scheme was launched in 2008, which is a comprehensive scheme to prevent and combat trafficking, where funds and support is provided to agencies which work in the areas of prevention, rescue, rehabilitation, reintegration and repatriation of victims of trafficking!

Since 2008, a total of 188 Ujjwala projects across 19 states have been sanctioned. But our States need to be more pro-active to involve the NGOs for ensuring effective implementation of the such scheme.

B. Bhamathi, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs says that several initiatives have been taken by the government to combat domestic and cross-border trafficking. Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) have been set up in many States and equipped with infrastructure to assist the States in their efforts.

Please spread words that a Central Advisory Committee (CAC) on Combating Trafficking was formed in 1994 with the Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development as the chairperson. It’s the outcome of the Supreme Court Judgment in Vishal Jeet vs Union of India wherein the Supreme Court had directed that a Committee be formed at the Central and State levels to look into the issues of trafficking particularly child trafficking.

Please also watch this video: