Govt okays funds to help girls trafficked into India from Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar

The Narendra Modi Government has decided to provide financial assistance to States and UTs in border areas to set up Protection and Rehabilitation Homes for the victims of trafficking particularly minor girls and young women being brought across from neighbouring Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar.

The homes will provide services like shelter, food, clothing, counselling, primary health facilities and other daily requirements, according to a statement issued by the Union Ministry of Child and Women’s Welfare today.

Young women and girls from neighbouring countries such as Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar  get trafficked in the guise of providing good jobs and better living conditions in India. A majority of them are minor girls or women of younger age, who are after their arrival in India are sold and forced into commercial sex work.

“These girls and young women often reach major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, etc, from where they are taken out of the country mainly to Middle-East and South East Asia. This is the reason why, the bordering States to these countries need to be more vigilant and have adequate facilities to provide relief and rehabilitation services to the victims of trafficking,” the official statement said.

The victim girls will be produced before CWC to be declared as fit y for providing sponsorship as per the Mission Vatsalya  scheme  guidelines.

The Government has provided funding to all States/ UTs under Nirbhaya Fund to set up and strengthen Anti Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) in every district of the country. In addition, funding has also been provided for AHTUs in Border Guarding Forces such as BSF and SSB. As on date, 788 AHTUs including 30 in Border guarding forces are functional.

Further, as per section 51 of the JJ Act,  the Board or the Committee  can recognize a facility being run  by a Governmental organization or a voluntary or non-governmental organization registered under any law for the time being in force to be fit to temporarily take the responsibility of a child for a specific  purpose after due inquiry regarding the suitability of the facility and the organization to take care of the child in such manner as may be prescribed. The  Board or the Committee may also withdraw the recognition under sub-section (1) for reasons to be recorded in writing.