Women for efforts to check human trafficking

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik releasing the book “Justice for Women: Legal Compendium” during the inaugural session of the National Convention on Inter-State Coordination on Anti-Trafficking of Girls and Women in Bhubaneswar on Friday.- Photo: PTI

Experts and women activists here on Friday emphasised on coordinated action among States as well as neighbouring countries for bringing an end to human trafficking.

“Trafficking of girls and women is an extremely critical issue of national and international importance. Lack of education, poverty and unemployment are catalytic factors. Unscrupulous elements take advantage of poor socio-economic conditions and indulge in organised trafficking of girls and women,” said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurating the National Convention on inter-State Coordination on Anti-trafficking of girls and women here.

The convention was jointly organised by the Odisha State Commission for Women and National Commission for Women. Chairpersons of State Commission for Women from 15 States attended the meet for firming up strategy for making coordination effort.

“Trafficking is a horrible social issue which is worse than cancer and it needs to be stamped out. Both source and destination States are required to work in partnership with the government and non-government organisations to prevent trafficking,” said NCW chairperson Lalitha Kumaramangalam.

Deliberating on Odisha achievement, Mr. Patnaik said: “During January 2015, ‘Operation Smile’ was launched by the State Police which resulted in rescue of 335 children from different parts of the State. During the month of July this year, the State Police launched ‘Operation Muskan’ in which 87 children were rescued by the joint teams of police and Women and Child Development department.”

The Chief Minister released a book on ‘Justice for Women: Legal Compendium’ written by senior lawyer Bibhu Prasad Tripathy on the occasion.

According to P. M. Nair, a NCW resource person, of the 1.10 lakh children that had gone missing during 2011, 40,000 remained untraced. Most of the children, mainly girls, could have been forced into flesh trade, he said.

Usha Devi, Women and Child Development Minister, Lopamudra Baxipatra, Odisha SCW chairperson and State Home Secretary Asit Tripathy also spoke on the occasion.