BERHAMPUR: The National Human Rights Commission has issued notices to Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, the Union government and railway board on reported incidents of human trafficking via the Berhampur railway station in Ganjam district.
Taking suo-motu cognizance of a report that Berhampur railway station has turned into a major transit point for human trafficking from Andhra Pradesh and Bihar, the commission asked the authorities for reports within six weeks after the notices were issued on Friday.
In 2022, the railway Childline with the help of GRP rescued 352 children from the Berhampur railway station. Among them were 210 boys and 142 girls. This month 11 children have been rescued so far.
Even though the child labour (prohibition) Act, 1986 has been in force for over three decades, the national plan of action to combat trafficking for sexual exploitation of women and children was formulated by the Centre in 1998 and NHRC‘s standard operating procedure to combat trafficking was circulated to all states in 2017. But nothing seems to have changed on the ground, the commission said.
The NHRC also said the chief secretaries are expected to include the preventive mechanism as per the National Action Plan to combat trafficking for commercial and sexual exploitation of children and their rehabilitation. The commission has also asked secretary, ministry of women and child development department to submit a report about the mechanism which has already been adopted or is likely to be adopted to completely eradicate child trafficking.
Taking suo-motu cognizance of a report that Berhampur railway station has turned into a major transit point for human trafficking from Andhra Pradesh and Bihar, the commission asked the authorities for reports within six weeks after the notices were issued on Friday.
In 2022, the railway Childline with the help of GRP rescued 352 children from the Berhampur railway station. Among them were 210 boys and 142 girls. This month 11 children have been rescued so far.
Even though the child labour (prohibition) Act, 1986 has been in force for over three decades, the national plan of action to combat trafficking for sexual exploitation of women and children was formulated by the Centre in 1998 and NHRC‘s standard operating procedure to combat trafficking was circulated to all states in 2017. But nothing seems to have changed on the ground, the commission said.
The NHRC also said the chief secretaries are expected to include the preventive mechanism as per the National Action Plan to combat trafficking for commercial and sexual exploitation of children and their rehabilitation. The commission has also asked secretary, ministry of women and child development department to submit a report about the mechanism which has already been adopted or is likely to be adopted to completely eradicate child trafficking.
