India’s first comprehensive anti-trafficking bill, seeking to deal with the crime from the point of prevention, protection and rehabilitation, was tabled in the Lok Sabha recently.
As human trafficking is the third largest organized crime after drugs and the arms trade across the globe. The 2016 NCRB Statistics suggest that 8,132 cases of trafficking were reported across the country with the number of victims rescued being 23,117. 45% of these victims were trafficked for the purpose of ‘forced labour’, followed by ‘sexual exploitation for prostitution’ (22%) etc.
In this context, Prayas, in collaboration with IWG (Interim Working Group), is organized a National Consultation on Human Trafficking: “Survivor Speaks – Words for Action”. Prayas is a humanitarian development organization deeply committed to address the issues of deprived and exploited children, youth & women. The Interim Working Group is a working group of 18 Organizations that engage regularly on anti trafficking and other related issues.
“Together, we have been constantly engaging for a comprehensive anti-trafficking law in the country which could guarantee better institutional support to the victims as well as ensure that their rights remain protected.” says Amod K Kanth, Former DGP, Chairperson, DCPCR, General Secretary, Prayas, JAC Society. Eleven survivors of human trafficking who were part of the conference urged Parliament to pass the anti-trafficking bill which would help in their rehabilitation at the earliest.
Besides the issues of prevention, rescue and rehabilitation, the Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2018 also covers aggravated forms of trafficking such as forced labour and begging.
The 11 survivors from 11 states narrated their ordeal and sought support for an early passage of the bill during the interactive session organised by the Prayas Juvenile Aid Centre (JAC) Society.
Different forms of trafficking, ranging from sexual exploitation, bonded labour, forced marriage to the organ trade.
Deva, a survivor from Tamil Nadu’s Erode district and an engineering student, said she was accidently trafficked. She was lured by an agent who promised her a job at a spinning mill in Tirupur. She wanted to pursue her studies but due to financial constraints, she was advised by her mother to work. When she reached Tirupur, she was tortured and physically abused. She was made to work for more than 12 hours a day.
“I realised that I was not the only one. Several girls like me were trapped. I was 12 when I was lured with false job promises. Even when we went on sick leave, we were made to work extra and were not paid. When we approached the police, they blamed us for taking up these jobs,” she added.
A 21-year-old woman from Chhattisgarh said she and her family were forced into bonded labour.
On the pretext of giving jobs, she and 13 others from her village were taken to Odisha and later, “sold” to a landlord.
Lok Sabha MP Manoj Tiwari, who is also the Delhi BJP chief, said that he did not go into the details of the bill, but having heard the stories of the survivors, he would definitely support the anti-trafficking bill.
In his address, Amod K Kanth, Founder General Secretary, Prayas, said, “Today, as we recount stories of despair, we also wish to make a strong statement of courage! We stand with our leaders and extend the responsibility of bringing forth a strong anti-trafficking legislation to protect, rehabilitate survivors of human-trafficking and ensure prevention for one’s vulnerable to this crime to them! We strongly support the long overdue Bill as it takes care of all the concerns.”
“The new bill has a provision for inter-state investigations and a national anti-trafficking bureau, which will solve the problem,” BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha said.
The actor-politician said that though a little late, it was very good that the bill was tabled in Parliament and that he was hopeful that it would be passed during the ongoing Monsoon Session.
Human trafficking Survivor speaks her ordeal
“I fell in love with a boy. As a 14 year girl, I was lured into the promises he made. Trusting him, I went out with him. He took me away from home and left me with this lady, who he claimed was his mother. He said that he would come back after arranging some money for our marriage, but he never came back. I soon realised that i have sold by this boy to a trafficker. This lady forced me into prostitution. I kept resisting and telling them that I was not such a person, but they didn’t listen and continued to rape me. There i found so many girls like me who were pushed into prostitution. Some were as young as 10 years. Some of them begged and cried so that we could go back. But in return they would torture us by burning me with cigarette butts. They used to forcibly make us consume alcohol.
I wanted to die. The only way one could be freed from this place is only when the police raids such a place and rescues them. They are so cruel that they abandon anyone who contracts diseases like AIDS or HIV.
What troubles me most is we have been ruined even though we haven’t committed any mistake. But those traffickers are out on bail and enjoying their lives today. Why should we be punished for their crimes?”
Says the young minor who spent many sleepless nights, and was sexually assaulted repeatedly, until she was rescued after a raid by the police.
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