Reassessing the case of Human Trafficking in Manipur

Wangdi Pamai *

Human Trafficking :: An art work from Banti Phurailatpam

At the backdrop of increasing rise on cases of Human Trafficking, does it helped to remind us of the speech given by Kofi Annan goes, “Despite the fact that all human beings are born free and equal in human dignity, every day thousands of women and children are sold so that their bodies and their labour can be exploited. Despite international labour standards and a UN Protocol against human trafficking, millions of victims, particularly children - made vulnerable by poverty and exploited by criminals - are working in mines, sweatshops, brothels and plantations - trapped by debt and violence. In a perverse commercialization of humanity, they are used like products and then thrown away.” (Speech by Kofi Annan, 2007).

Although slavery and slave trade were abolished in the 19th century, they have not been eradicated. Indeed it is one of the most flourishing and profitable business for organised crime after drugs and arms. However, modern human trafficking does not differ from 19th century slave trade in a number of ways. But it is difficult to get a precise overview over the industry due to its clandestine nature.

There are ample cases of human trafficking happening in Manipur situated in the north-eastern part of India neighbouring to South and Southeast Asian regions. In the midst of intense phase of globalisation the effort to curve human trafficking is at risk and seems out of control and inevitable. Besides, the India’s concept of Look-east policy and its implementation could be a setback, particularly when it comes to solving to human trafficking problems in Manipur. The development of transport and communication however, encourages the increase movement of people within state (inter-state) and trans-national.

According to reports of International Labour Organisation (ILO), nearly 56 percent of trafficked persons are in Asia and Pacific region (International Organisation for Migration. 2007). Here, Manipur also serves as the most important strategic point geographically as a source, transition as well as destination point of trafficking in India which has become one of the most fertile zones for human trafficking particularly in the northeast India.

Moreover, the non-implementation of Inner-Line permit system had also encouraged migration of immigrants to Manipur through international borders particularly from Myanmar and Bangladesh. Most of the cases of human trafficking are also internal, between different states and regions.

Manipur being one of the poorest and undeveloped states in terms of its governance and economy has become one of the most vulnerable states to human trafficking in India and particularly in northeast India. Lack of commitment and intervention of the state government and its law enforcement agencies had escalated the present situation and to its worse. Since most of the human trafficking cases occurred within states it is up to the will and commitment of the government at the state level primarily to tackle and curved the issue effectively.

What can be the worse form of exploitation than modern form of slavery today when the trafficked victims were treated like slaves at the hands of traffickers? This form of exploitation should not find its place in any civilised world and every government should make its best effort so as to prevent further worsening human trafficking in Manipur.

The government should create mass public awareness with special focus at the local level. Since, most vulnerable victims are those marginalised group of people from the rural areas of Manipur whose families are either single parents are orphans who have no proper relatives to look after. The government should also come out with certain strategy and methods to combat human trafficking like certain placards and posters of anti-trafficking should be pasted at various public places than at their own offices. They should be pasted at airport, border security check post, hotel, hospital, restaurant, theatre, waiting shed, street or post at various social media like facebook etc,.

Failure of the education system in Manipur with a large percentage of school drop-out students every year had also largely contributed to escalate human trafficking in Manipur. However, NGOs are sometime more active and effective than governmental organizations in preventing, rehabilitation and social re-integration of the victims and also actions in anti-human trafficking issues.

Human Trafficking is gross violation of human rights and worst form of exploitation against women. In most cases, Human Trafficking is the manifest of deeply rooted, long deprivation and denial of governmental socio-economic programmes. The remoteness and unwillingness to address the problems by the state and also long political instability in the region have complicated the situation and some vested interest group take advantage of the situation and trafficked out hundreds of the children from Manipur. The irony is that in every cases of Human Trafficking in Manipur, there was always an involvement of female local agents while the issue itself was concerned with women more particularly.

The response of the state is too tardy in providing rehabilitation and re-integration of the victims. Also there is no facility to accommodate the victims of the human trafficking especially for the grown up women (mean above 18 years of age) and for boys. Thereby many of the boys mostly under the age of 18 years were left care of.

The state government especially Social Welfare and Police Departments to ensure
Protection: The police should ensure each community members a secure environment. The community members or community groups organized to bring attention to the issue and trained themselves to work effectively in their own capacity.

Prevention: Create awareness for the masses on mental and physical, health, laws, social and economic impacts of the victims and communities. Set up care centre and support to provide rehabilitation and social re-integration.

Prosecution: Ensure justice for victims and prosecute the criminal as per the laws of the land. Moreover, the government should ensure that the funds were sufficiently distributed. Community members should also ensure and effectively implement the laws against the alleged traffickers. Raise alertness on the moment of traffickers and coordinate with the local and community (now every district of Manipur had Child Welfare Committee).

The police as law enforcement should be aware of the sign of the Human Trafficking and sensitive enough to the acts of traffickers. The police should be seen as the first responders to the issue. Police can work closely with citizens and civil society organizations to help implement civic education programs, community and school intervention programs for youths at risk, and community meetings to discuss crime problems in an effort to prevent Trafficking in Person.

Police also strengthen the connection between rule of law and education, social services, civil society and local governance. Unfortunately, especially police corruption, unwillingness and not concern off and insensitive to the issue are major problems remains challenge in combating Trafficking in Person.

We need specific laws at the national or state level. It also needs a greater control and commitment from the world or national government and greater intervention of the states. Moreover, all the countries of the world must compliance with the UN Convention or Protocols against Transnational Organised Crime. Mona Mehta says, “It is not enough to have a law. The implementation needs to be resourced well enough for it to work”.