Udalguri district vulnerable to human trafficking

From a Correspondent

TANGLA, June 29: Keeping in view the rising cases of human trafficking in Udalguri district, the District Child Protection Unit in collaboration with local NGO Pherengadao, felt the necessity to organize an awareness programme on illegal trafficking of children on Wednesday at Bordoloi Bhavan in Tangla.

The programme was chaired by Ghateswar Baruah, Head of the Department of Assamese, Tangla College. Earlier the programme was iugurated by Gautam Sahariah. An awareness rally was also taken out throughout the town.

Speaking on the occasion, Savio Laura, Programme Mager, State Child Protection Society, said, “We have to join hands together to curb the mece of human trafficking. By propagating false promises, children are lured to urban areas and racketed through traffickers.” He further said, “In our study in joint collaboration with student bodies we found 3,676 cases of human trafficking where it was learnt that Udalguri district is one of the most vulnerable places which has emerged as dens of human trafficking. Many children and women of the region are still missing and they are suspected to be trafficked.”

Speaking on the occasion, Saptati Endow, Assistant Commissoner, Bhergaon said, “Human trafficking is a curse to the human civilization as a whole. It is a heinous crime. The victims mostly include women and children. They are the future of the tion. Illiteracy and uwareness are prime reasons for the victims falling to such traps. We should jointly fight to free the society from the clutches of the traffickers.”

SSA District Project Officer, Babul Khaglary said, “We want to spread the message of awareness regarding trafficking of people in the region. Right to free and compulsory education to children of 6 to 14 years of age should not be violated. We want to exhort that children below the age of 14 years should not be engaged in garages, household works. Parents are duty bound to educate their children at least till Class VIII. By witty and cunning talks, girls are lured from remote areas and then pushed in urban areas to human flesh trade.”

Gautam Sahariah, District Child Protection Officer, Udalguri said, “We are dismayed wherever children or girls are rescued from various parts of the tion and they are from Udalguri.  This clearly indicates how vulnerable our district is.”

An Anganwadi worker said, “Juvenile girls are mostly trafficked. So the sole responsibility does not lie on ANM and Anganwadi workers. High school and ME school teachers have greater responsibility to educate and aware them.”

Bipani Devi, Child Welfare Committee said, “Trafficking of humans is a heinous crime prevalent since time immemorial. Though laws have been prevalent yet no effective law has been promulgated. The four districts of BTC are most vulnerable. The trade of prostitution is also a primary reason for trafficking.”

The programme was also attended by Keshab Dutta, senior jourlist, SDC Dithakanda Hazarika,  ANM and Anganwadi workers, VDP members ,village headmen, Nilakshi Bordoloi, CDPO Udalguri  and ndeswar Basumatari of JJB.