Conflict-related displacement has made poor children vulnerable to trafficking: Nedan Foundation

From our Correspondent

KOKRAJHAR, June 9: NEDAN Foundation, a Kokrajhar based NGO working in the field of human trafficking and women empowerment, said that the conflict-related displacement in the districts of Kokrajhar, Chirang and Dhubri has made poor children vulnerable due to which agents or human traffickers are taking advantage of these children in the pretext of providing better opportunities.

In a press statement, Nedan Foudation said that on May 28, an NGO, the DBAI of Cheni rescued a minor girl Kamiya Mardi (me changed), aged 5 years, hailing from Odlaguri village under Gossaigaon subdivision of Kokrajhar district. She was found wailing in the Eggmore Railway Station, Cheni when the NGO activists rescued her. The small kid was found all alone looking for her mother but her mother could not be found.  Mardi was missing from home since May 20. Kamiya along with her mother went missing when they were on their way to attend a function in the nearby village.

After receiving the news, Nedan Foudation activists immediately carried out an enquiry in order to find out the residence of the girl. They could successfully trace the address of the young girl and are in the process of repatriation of the girl back to Kokrajhar.

Again, on May 29, 17 minor girls were rescued by a team of Nedan Foudation along with the Kokrajhar Railway Police and other student bodies at Kokrajhar Railway Station. All the 17 girls were from different places of Kokrajhar and Chirang districts. Among the 17 girls, seven were already working in Tamil du and they had come to take other girls in the false hope of giving job with the help of agents. Poverty is main reason for young girls becoming victims of trafficking.