State Bhawans asked to help trafficked kids

Child rights panel plans rehabilitation project for victims rescued from Delhi-NCR

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has asked all States to set up helpdesks in their bhawans in the Capital to help rehabilitate victims of child trafficking rescued from Delhi-NCR.

A senior NCPCR official said framing a post-rescue standard operating procedure would help in reuniting trafficked children with their families.

Helpline numbers

The commission has also asked the bhawans to display helpline numbers of the Child Protection Unit (NCPCR helpline - 09868235077), Childline - 1098 and Child Welfare Committees (CWCs).

The bhawans have also been asked to appoint a nodal officer for translating the language concerned, as this would help in better coordination.

“All State bhawans should open a helpdesk for victims of child trafficking and their families, and all States should appoint a nodal officer for this purpose,” NCPCR Chairperson Stuti Kacker said.

Meeting held

At a recent meeting convened in the Capital with nine State resident commissioners -- Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Assam, Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh-- various issues related to child trafficking were discussed. These included providing transportation facility till the victim’s hometown, even in the event of his/her death in NCR, and compilation of a resource directory with contact numbers of every State’s child protection/anti-trafficking units, CWCs, and NGOs concerned.

The meeting also discussed the help that could be given to the victim’s families who come to Delhi in search of their children.

The event was also attended by members of Child Welfare Committees from eight States, Childline and NGOs working for child protection and anti-child trafficking.

NCPCR member Yashwant Jain said all States must share their best practices to learn from each other.

Spurt in cases

According to the 2015 National Crime Records Bureau data, there has been a 73% increase in human trafficking cases in Delhi. The figure has gone up to 156 cases registered from 23 a year ago. As many as 207 girls were rescued by the police and other agencies in 2015, compared to 32 in 2014.

Most of the victims rescued were trafficked from West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha. About 60% of the victims were in the age group of 12-16 years and 83.3% of the traffickers were known to the victims.