Socio-economic revolution key to stop Human trafficking
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, April 27 2024:
A one-day state-level consultative meet on human trafficking was organised by New Life Foundation at Hotel Imphal, North AOC, here, on Saturday.
Speaking as chief guest of the event, Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR) chairperson K Pradipkumar remarked that the year-long conflict has brought a new dimension to human trafficking, with the rate of human trafficking increasing rapidly in the country.
Human trafficking is not just trafficking victims out of the state, but also within the state and outside the.
country both openly and discreetly.
All of these need to be investigated, he said.
He continued that the 20,000 kids displaced by the conflict need to be placed in residential schools.
Sponsorship schemes, which would assist in their rehabilitation, also need to be taken up.
It would take time for the children, who are victims of this conflict, to return home and to normal life.
Amid this, if the children are provided some sort of sponsorship under any existing national scheme, it would help in preventing them from becoming victims of human trafficking, he contended.
Pradeep then said that if the socio economic status and education sector do not improve, it would prove to be useless even if any achievement is made against human trafficking.
At present, the poverty line has dropped abysmally, with prices of indigenous goods going down due to surplus supply while prices of out-of-state goods are on the rise.
Such economic conditions could put children at vulnerable positions, he cautioned, and as such, stressed for both the government and stakeholders concerned to bring about a socio-economic revolution to monitor and prevent human trafficking.
In addition, the anti-human trafficking units of the police need to be revamped and increased understanding among the stakeholders encouraged, he conveyed.
Presided over by Manipur State Commission for Women (MSCW) chairperson Salam Ulka, the meet was also attended by Social Welfare director Ng Uttam as guest of honour.
During the technical session, which was moderated by Impulse NGO Network Shillong founder and chairperson Hasina Kharbhih, Social Welfare Department ICPS programme officer, Mala Lisham spoke on the topic of 'Present situation of human trafficking scenario in Manipur' and Youth Engagement Kailash Satyarthi Foundation, New Delhi manager Govind Khanal on 'Role of government and CSOs to combat anti human trafficking and its possible measures' as resource persons.