FXB India Suraksha trains Taxi Union, drivers, Vigilance committee members on child protection and safety
Source: The Sangai Express

Ukhrul, May 19 2018: FXB India Suraksha as part of its project 'Mukti', an antitrafficking project to address issues of human trafficking and child sexual abuse organized a one day training programme for Taxi Union and Drivers of Ukhrul district, to ensure protection and safety of children in the district at NERCOMP/UDCRMS Conference Hall, Ukhrul today.

The programme was organized in association with ECPAT, Luxembourg conveyed a press release issued by programme manager FXB India Suraksha, Satya Prakash.

Ringthing Hongchui, SDPO, Ukhrul attended the programme as special guest while 75 taxi drivers along with the executive members of the Union participated in the programme.

During the programme, the participants were trained on the basics of child protection and safety, human trafficking, its forms and the modus op-erandi used by traffickers in luring children and other vulnerable groups on the pretext of better life opportunities to various places.

The need for discussion and action against child sexual abuse, which has become a burning issue across the country, was also discussed during the programme.

The taxi drivers were trained on how to identify victims of trafficking, how they can be vigilant in identifying the victims as well as the perpetrators.

Two movies showcasing the scenario of human trafficking were also screened.

They were also told how taxi drivers in different places are playing important roles in stopping children from getting trafficked and how their works have been hugely applauded by the district administration.

Ningshen Womgam, SP stated that child sexual abuse is a heinous crime which destroys the innocent and beautiful world of a child while stating that it is the collective responsibility of all to prevent such illegal actions.

Ringthing Hongchui SDPO Ukhrul while lauding FXB India Suraksha for taking up a path breaking initiative stated that Ukhrul police is extending its maximum support to ensure safety for children and provide a violence and abuse free community/area.

He appealed the taxi drivers to come forward to report any apprehensive cases of abuse or trafficking so that district police can act at earliest.

Chuimeikhai Mashangva, secretary, Ukhrul District Passengers Service Association (UDPSA) said that everyone has their own role to play in creating a safe environment for children in the district.

"It is important for us as taxi drivers to be vigilant and report cases to the authority concerned", he added.

Khayui Raleng, president UDPSA said the association will include 'prevention of crime towards women and children' in the charter of rule and regulation issued to each taxi driver at the time of registration.

A thorough discussion with the leaders of the UDPSA was chaired by Satya Prakash, Program Manager of FXB India Suraksha wherein the members of UDPSA suggested to put up stickers at taxis with the message to stop human trafficking.

On the other hand, FXB India Suraksha organized a training programme for members of the vigilance committee, at NERCOMP/ UDCRMS Conference Hall, Ukhrul yesterday.

The vigilance committee is a committee to be formed at the village level to ensure protection and safety of children in the community.

25 participants from 14 villages of Ukhrul district participated.

DC of Ukhrul district Dr Harmit Pahuja, SP Ukhrul district Ningshen Womgam, Mamta Borgoyary, CEO, FXB India Suraksha attended the programme as special guests.

During the programme, the participants were trained on the basics of child protection and safety, human trafficking: its forms and modus operandi used by traffickers in luring children or other vulnerable group on the pretext of better life opportunities.

The vigilance committee will work in ensuring that there is no drop-outs and that all the children are enrolled in school and be vigilant in promoting safe migration, apart from reporting cases and working closely with district administration to ensure child protection and safety in each villages of Ukhrul district.

The training programme also included participatory group activity where participants were given the task to share their thoughts on the role of community members in combating human trafficking and addressing cases of sexual abuse, composition of the vigilance committee, its role and responsibilities and the support they would require for functioning of the committee.

Dr Harmit Pahuja stated that issues related to child sexual abuse are very sensitive and need to be addressed also.

The Government of India is very sensitive towards the cause related to child protection and safety and therefore the district administration will provide its support to its community members in ensuring protection of children against sexual abuse in the district.

Rather than focusing at only 30 villages, such committees should be formed across the district in Ukhrul, he asserted.

Ningshen Womgam, SP said refraining such topics from reporting is a big issue in the district.

"Online exploitation of children is a new trend taking place through social media which needs to be stopped too", he added.

It is welcoming that such kind of committee is going to be formed at the village itself which will be helpful to the Police too in working on the issue.

Mamta Borgoyary, CEO, FXB India Suraksha said that the initiative of forming the committee is a precursor to facilitating and making Govt mechanisms on child protection and safety.

FXB India Suraksha, as part of Mukti Project, conducted Baseline study in 2016 with more than 650 Government stakeholders and community members both at Ukhrul and Imphal which concluded that "Manipur is a prone States from where trafficking of children takes place due to various reasons and vulnerable situations such as poor infrastructure, poor education facility, unemployment etc", it added.

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