Program against human trafficking held in city

Program against human trafficking held in city

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Nov 19, 2012: The DK district administration, the Zilla Panchayat (ZP), and the Women and Children Welfare Department (WCWD) of Mangalore jointly organized a program as part of Childline Se Dosti Week, a nationwide campaign against immoral trafficking of women and children at the Town Hall on Monday.

An awareness rally from Jyothi to Town Hall marked the beginning of this event.

N. Yogish Bhat, deputy speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, inaugurated the event and said that human trafficking is the largest racket the world, second only to drug trafficking. Listing factors responsible for human trafficking, he said that a wide range of factors such as poverty and sex-related factors are responsible.

Voicing concerns that most of the cases of missing boys and girls in the district are unreported, he said that the Narcotics Cell/Anti Drugs Trafficking Cell and the Intelligence Wing must be strengthened to curb flesh trade in Karnataka. The unnatural deaths of girls in hostels and boarding houses must be thoroughly investigated and proper awareness must be created among the public regarding this issue, he added. He also suggested the formation of a coordinated committee of state departments to deal with this issue. 

Asha Nayak, chairperson of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC); Dr. Rameela Shekhar, member of the DK Juvenile Justice Board; and social activist Pemanand Kalmadi spoke on this issue and presented related statistics and facts.

While Dr. Shekhar urged people to avoid gender discrimination at home and educate their girls, Mrs. Nayak spoke on the need to create legal awareness related to child and human rights. She also spoke of the importance of rehabilitating victims of flesh trade.

Speaking on the occasion, Mohammed Nazeer, chief planning officer of the ZP, said that the rising number of victims of human trafficking is because of poverty and ignorance, adding that government must organize pro people programs at the level of villages to reach out to rural people and create awareness among them.

MLA U. T. Khader said that self-help groups have helped a lot in preventing children from being exploited.

Dhanalakshmi Janardhan, vice president of the district-level committee for prevention of women and children trafficking, delivered the presidential address. Mayor Gulzar Banu also addressed the gathering on this occasion. Shankuntala A., deputy director of WCWD, delivered the welcome address. Renny D’Souza, director of Padi Valored, was also present.