Awareness meet on human trafficking and child held

 A Correspondent

TANGLA, April 25: Keeping in view the rising cases of crime against women and children across the nation, an awareness meeting on child marriage and trafficking of women and children was held at Kalaigaon Girls’ High School in Kalaigaon of Udalguri jointly by the Udalguri district administration, District Social Welfare Office and District Legal Services Authority.  The meeting was presided over by the Deputy Commissioner of Udalguri, Dilip Kumar Das. Speaking on the occasion, he highlighted the vulnerability of women and children to the organized racket of human trafficking and child marriage.

 “We have to join hands together to curb the menace of human trafficking and rising crime on women,” he said. He specifically mentioned that women and children below BPL were lured with false promises of good jobs and better lifestyle outside the State and then engaged in illegal activities. Das further added that the administration had always taken pro-active role to rescue victimized women and children.

 He said that no woman should feel helpless and vulnerable because the present government had formulated various schemes for the welfare of women who lived below the poverty line and had also opened an array of skill development trainings for self-employment opportunities. If any woman was in distress, she should take the help of police and dial the emergency number 181, he said.

 Speaking on the occasion, Additional Superintendent of Police, Udalguri, Abhijit Gaurav said that child marriage was a heinous crime and no girl should be married before 18 years and in case of boys before 21. If any parents or guardians are engaged in such activity, they will be jailed and also the people who are present in such crime scenes will face the wrath of law. Deputy Commandant of 8th APBN, SSB, Manoj Kumar too said that heinous crimes against women were increasing at a high rate and the government was taking stern steps against the persons involved.

 District Social Welfare Officer Meena Das Boro too said that women and children were not vulnerable and there were various schemes available for them to get engaged in employment for those who were below the poverty line. She too mentioned victims of sexual offences are rehabilitated and given the necessary attention they require. Social activist K. Sahariah, Mariam Dutta and advocate Brahma too forwarded their necessary opinion.