Member of Parliament assures support for urgent passage of anti-trafficking bill

GUWAHATI: In a bid to support Trafficking Bill, stakeholders in Assam have started the campaign 'I support Trafficking Bill' in the State. Stakeholders in 15 districts have reached out to the politicians, officials, NGOs and citizens to get their support for the 'Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill-2021' which will be tabled in the Parliament during this Monsoon Session that has the potential to dismantle the complex modus-operandi of trafficking and attacking the heinous crime that perpetrates violence against our children.

The current pandemic has unfortunately led to an aggravation of the dangers faced by the most marginalized children in India, especially in terms of child labour and child trafficking. Since the onset of the pandemic, the rescue of children from trafficking and the arrest of children has significantly gone up.

Supporting the bill, MP Naba Kumar Sarania from Kokrajhar interacted with the volunteers of the 'Bodoland Association for All Round Development'. ; assuring support to this bill and cited – "This bill is the need of the hour. It is the right time to pass this bill and implement the same in the ground. This bill has captured many important issues like breaking organized syndicates, aggravated form of offence, confiscation of traffickers' property etc."

As per the Crime in India-2019 Report published by the NCRB the total number of child victims of trafficking is going up year on year. According to the data total number of children missing in Assam in 2019 is 1410. The total number of persons trafficked is 248. Number of victims rescued under Immoral Trafficking Prevention Act is 38 and Child Labour Act is 68.

Trafficking in Persons (Prevention, Care and Rehabilitation) Bill-2021 covers the various aspects of trafficking by including various offences pertaining to trafficking, including aggravated forms of trafficking. It creates a dedicated institutional mechanism at district, state and national level to prevent and counter trafficking, and also for the protection and rehabilitation of victims of trafficking.

The existing bill has expanded definition of trafficking and victim and covers new forms of aggravated trafficking for the purpose of forced or bonded labour, debt bondage, slavery, servitude, sexual exploitation, bio-medical research or trials, carrying out unlawful activities in places such as placement agencies, massage parlours, spas, travel agencies, circus, etc. The bill also provides stringent punishment for the offences of trafficking of women, or children, or transgender under institutional care. The existing bill also ensures immediate monetary relief and compensation.

Civil Society Organisations and child rights activists all over the country have expressed solidarity through #ISupportTraffickingBill campaign. The bill once passed in both houses of the parliament will be a significant milestone in the journey of ending trafficking.

Also Read: Naba Kumar Sarania from Tamulpur constituency: Early life, Education, Career and Politics

Also Watch: