Govt. to help combat child trafficking in border areas, set up rehabilitation homes

Source: The post is based on the article “Govt. to help combat child trafficking in border areas, set up rehabilitation homes” published in The Hindu on 5th July 2023.

What is the News?

The Central Government has decided to help build infrastructure in border areas to combat child trafficking and help in rehabilitation and protection of victims.

About Trafficking in border areas of India:

India is a source as well as destination country for trafficking of persons.

The source countries of such trafficking are Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar from where women and girls are trafficked under false promises of providing a better life, jobs and good living conditions in India.

A majority of those trafficked are minor girls or young women who after their arrival in India are sold and forced into commercial sex work. 

These girls/women often reach major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad etc. from where they are taken out of the country mainly to the Middle East and SouthEast Asia.

What are the steps the government has taken till now to combat trafficking in border areas?

Till now, the Women and Child Development Ministry has been providing financial assistance to all States and Union Territories under the Nirbhaya Fund to set up and strengthen Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTU) in every district of the country. 

Funding has also been provided for setting up of AHTU units in border guarding forces such as the Border Security Force (BSF) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).

What are the further steps the government is planning to take to combat trafficking on border areas?

Government has decided to provide financial assistance to States/UTs in border areas to set up protection and rehabilitation homes for the victims of trafficking particularly for minor girls and young women.

These homes will provide services like shelter, food, clothing, counseling, primary health facilities and other daily requirements.

The government will also help build infrastructure to combat child trafficking in border areas.

The victims of trafficking will also be produced before the child welfare committee to declare fit facility for providing sponsorship as per the Mission Vatsalya Scheme guideline and accordingly, the states/UTs will be requested to do the needful.