(World Day against Trafficking in Persons on July 30)
India being the second largest populated country with 1.37 billion people, it is therefore not a shocker to know that it is one of the major hubs of human trafficking around the globe. While the Victims from India are �packed off� to Europe and Middle East as bonded labourers, a substantial number are lured across the borders of India from Nepal and Bangladesh enmeshed in the web of false hopes of better living. For those still unaware, Human Trafficking is the illegal trade of humans for forced or bonded labour, commercial sexual exploitation, slavery and other such dens of shattered hopes dug by the special breed of traffickers who deal in human commodity.
Human Trafficking is the third largest organised crime violating basic human rights. The Union Cabinet has approved the Trafficking Of Persons Bill, 2018 to curb the illegal human trade. But the question remains � are the human species of the lower socio-economic strata safe yet?
The whole country is at risk, every individual is a prey. Women and children are the most common and vulnerable victims of human trade. According to estimates of NGOs crusading against human trafficking, between 20 and 65 million Indians are adversely affected by the hugely profitable activities of the inhuman breed of human werewolves.
This ungainly scenario is no different in the state of Jharkhand either where everyday someone unknowingly or forcefully gets trapped in the hands of the traffickers. Recently, someone mentioned being forcefully taken by two women with the promise of bright earning prospects only to end up as satisfiers of baser instincts of men in some rural area of Jharkhand. According to a study conducted by Sribas Goswami, 33,000 girls are trafficked every year from Jharkhand. While some are misguided and mislead in the hopes of a better future, livelihood and employment opportunities in bigger cities, some are forcefully abducted. Of the many victims, some are sold for commercial sexual exploitation, some others are forcibly married off and yet some more end up as bonded labourers perhaps for life. The obvious reason behind it all is poverty that so scathingly hovers over the dark sky of these children of a lesser god.
It is easier to fall prey for these people because of lack of education, awareness, aid and support from the government. Although the Bill has been introduced, the foundation work is yet anywhere close to effective implementation. It will still take some time before we see an impact. However there are NGOs working day and night to fight this consternating evil. The Rescue Foundation has been putting in untiring efforts to check this human malady ever since its incorporation in 2000. Similarly, Shakti Vahini is seen working in collaboration with students from colleges and volunteers to understand the problem at the roots. The Bill and the NGOs aim at preventing, protecting and providing relief to the victims of human trade. Rehabilitation is a major function as the trauma of the victims is unimaginable. Although it is very difficult to harness the surging business of human trafficking it is indeed a step in the right direction towards bringing the issue on to public platforms. The more the talk, the more will public awareness grow and at some point of time the whole human mass will take up cudgels against the human werewolves.
Therefore a question arises as to what an individual human being can and should do. If suspicion arises about such activity, the matter should immediately be notified to the police. If some known person suddenly goes missing, again seek the help of police. Prevent young and even minor girls from families at the rock bottom of economic level from walking into the honey trap of human traffickers by counselling them or referring them to NGOs working in this preventive field. A special directory of names and contact numbers of people and agencies would go a long way in promptly curbing the viral instincts of traders who vilify the image of higher animals.