Skip to content Skip to navigation

Forum against human trafficking

By Hantigiri Narzary |

The Nedan Foundation, a Kokrajhar based NGO has been pioneer in combating cross-border human trafficking in the North East region and has been continuously advocating for building regional collaboration on the issues in North East with South Asia. Strengtheningen strong collaboration and develop multi-sectoral partnership through networking and advocacy, Nedan  organized a  North East region's  consultation on Thursday at Central Institute of Technology (C.I.T)  in Kokrajhar, Bodoland Territorial Council  to further strengthen the North East Region partnership in combating human trafficking and to initiate a process of joint learning, collaboration, identification of good practices and replication of initiatives to combat human trafficking in the state of Assam.

The consultation was inaugurated by lightning of the lamp by  Madhav Prasad Sarma, Deputy Commissioner of Kokrajhar in the presence of  S.P. Saikia , Superintendent of Police- Kokrajhar,  A.K.C. Singh, Commandant of 16th Battalion- SSB.

DigambarNarzary, Chairperson of Nedan Foundation put forward the objective of the one day consultation and the idea of providingtimely justice, time framed for repatriating the survivors of human trafficking. Narzary stated that every year bunch of children is being repatriated from Mumbai, Haryana, Chennai and other parts of India. Assam has the highest number of missing children. 

 Sarma, Deputy Commissioner of Kokrajhar stated that the scenario of human trafficking is at an alarming rate where it can be seen that 70 % of the victims are girls and women. Flood related displacement; conflict related displacement and poverty are seen as the main reason for increased rate of human trafficking. Above all ignorance of such circumstances also leads to trafficking. In order to curb such menace, the Deputy Commissioner emphasized on cooperating with the concerned departments working on protection of children and women because it is only possible through the joint effort from various concerned departments to prevent the modern slavery and thus build a trafficking free society. 

S.P. Saikia, Superintendent of Police of Kokrajhar appreciated Nedan Foundation for organizing North East level consultation and had pledged to fight against human trafficking and child labor. In his speech, Saikia stated that he would closely coordinate and support NEDAN in working towards combatting human trafficking. 

The study done by UNODC highlighted Assam as the 2nd highest trafficking zone. Of the four BTAD (Bodoland Territorial Council) districts of Assam three districts namely Kokrajhar, Baksa and Chirang also have the large number of trafficking cases in the present scenario. Kokrajhar is one of the trafficking hubs known as 6th highest trafficking zone of Assam where highest no. of trafficking takes place. The recent cases of 60 children still sheltering at the registered homes in West Bengal hailing from the different districts of Assam including children from Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Udalguri and Baksa indicates the grim situation of trafficking in the region. The children are in the urgent need of restoration. 

In order to intervene the alarming rate of trafficking in the North East region, NEDAN Foundation along with the participants of the North East Network Forum Against Trafficking (NENFAT) have discussed on creating a logical model on rescue, repatriation and re-integration of the human trafficking survivors and drafting of an inter-state Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on rescue, repatriation and re-integration  will based on the feedback taken from the participants.  The drafting of Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)/Guidelines is important in order to build a positive partnership to carry out the plan of action in a sensitive and professional manner. The SOP is therefore expected to serve as a guideline to address the common concerns with all the stakeholders for raid, rescue and repatriation of the survivors of human trafficking. The purpose of drafting an inter-state SOP is to stimulate a process of discussion and development among government officials, uniform personnel's, Civil Society Organizations and supporting partners that will lead towards the adoption of uniform minimum standards and guidelines for the inter-state partner organizations, stakeholders/institutions that work on rescue, repatriation with survivors of human trafficking.

The one day consultation have convened more than 40 key stakeholders comprising of  core members of North East Network Forum Against Trafficking (NENFAT), government officials and uniform personnel's from the state of Assam and indeed was a successful consultation which ended with a good note. 

 

  • 10035 reads

Add new comment

Other Contents by Author

Election campaigns fever grows up

Election fever grew up ahead few days of scheduled Assam assembly election among various parties like regional, national in the state including BPF, UPP, AGP, AIUDF, Congress, BJP. BPF president Hagrama Mohilary, who is also BTC chief campaigned for party candidate Banendra Mushahary from Gauripur LAC at Debitala High School ground in a chartered Helicopter.  Mohilary was accompanied with Rajya Sabha MP Biswajit Daimary, addressed the well attended election rally said that his party has been fielding 16 constituencies all over the BTAD region. He has been claiming of that his party is winning I  large number of contesting seats without any hesitation, because common citizens are...

Hindibashi Yuba Chatra Parishad extends supports to BPF

The Akhil Hindibashi Yuba Chatra Parishad, BTC region committee has decided to extend support to the ruling Bodoland People's Front party in the ensuing assembly election.  The parishad leaders hold meeting with BTC chief Hagrama Mohilary on Tuesday at Bodoland Guest House in Guwahati and submitted a memorandum of seven points of charter of demands which included welfare of the Hindibashi peoples in the region.  Speaking the reporters on Wednesday at Kokrajhar Press Club, Shekhar Yadav, president and Ram Niwas Kumar, secretary of the parishad said that the parishad placed a memorandum to the BTC chief Hagrama Mohilary, who is also BPF president.  'We discussed on various...

Election observer visits Chirang

The Election Observer for Expenditure for 31-Sidli (ST) LAC Jaginder Singh, IRS on Tuesday arrived at Kajalgaon in Chirang district. He held a meeting with the officer in charges and members of various expenditure monitoring teams in the conference hall of the DC's office at Kajalgaon.  While briefing the importance of maintaining records of election expenditure correctly, Singh advocated for strict compliance to ECI guidelines adding that the ECI was very strict on the expenditure aspect of the election. Chirang Deputy Commissioner and district election officer Rupak Kumar Mazumdar gave a brief outline of the district election plan and urged all the officials present to carry out...

Election awareness meeting

An election awareness meeting involving officials from district administration, sub-divisional and officer in charges and members of various monitoring teams on Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation(SVEEP) was held today at Circuit House in Kokrajhar. SK Malviya, election awareness observer in Kokrajhar attended the meeting urged the officials to make public awareness in the district to implenment the  ensuing election in free and fair with increase of polling percentage. Briefing the importance of awareness among the voters, Malviya called upon the officers to make necessary steps to create awareness among the masses so that the voters are well aware of all the...

Common voters favour BPF-BJP: Mohilary

BPF president Hagrama Mohilary,who is also BTC Chief claimed that his party is going to form government at Dispur in alliance with BJP as common voters are favouring to the alliance. Mohilary has been campaigning for party candidates in the region and expressed his hopeful of winning in large number on contsting seats. Mohilary, on Tuesday campaigned with chartered helicopter for party candidates beginning from Sidli constituency for Chandan Brahma at Tukrajhar,Gossaigaon for Majendra Narzary at Saraibil and Kokrajhar west for Rabiram Narzary at Chitila ground. Mohilary,in his addressed said that his party has been forming next government allaince with BJP,no doubt. ‘This time we have...

BJP leader quits

Former president of Kokrajhar district unit of Bharatiya Janata Party, Binati Bala Basumatary resigned from her party membership on Monday.  Basumatary submitted her resignation letter to the state party president citating personal reason . She was Kokrajhar district BJP president for 2011-2015, who had gained strength of the party through her strong leadership in the district. Basumatary's quit of the party ahead assembly election would draw a set back party strength in the Kokrajhar. Basumatary is likely to join ruling BPF party within couple of days, said a close aid of Binati. 

NDFNB(S) ultras held

Three cadres of the NDFB(S) were arrested by security forces in a joint operation belonging to police and army at Hakata village under Barama PS in Baksa district on Sunday. The cadres were identified as Jwangsar Boro @ KK, Mohit Mushahary and Pramod Ramchiary @ Khankari @Raja   of Baksa district. They were actively involved in extortion, arms smuggling and other nefarious and anti national activities and Adivasi carnage in December(2014) and had run away and sheltered themselves in Chennai, till their return. Two pistols along with 4 live rounds, a hand grenade and three mobile phones were recovered from them. Mohit Misahary is a cadre of 39 Batch NDFB and trained in Myanmar.

AIUDF leaders demand early declaration of candidates

The party leader and workers of All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) of Kokrajhar east (No.30) constituency  committee urged the central committee to declare Manu Borgoyary’s  name as candidate in immediate to pave way party working in the constituency to contest scheduled second phase assembly election on April 11 next.

RMC suspends its president

The Religious Minority Council (RMC), BTC region has suspended Sohrab Khan, president of the council for his anti organization activities.  An emergent central executive meeting of the council was held today at Magurmari with Gulzar Hussain Mallah, working president of the council in the chair in Kokrajhar district where delegates attended from 10 district committees of the BTAD. The council thoroughly discussed about the prevailing situation and resolved three resolutions which included supports continue to BPF party, making social uplift among common publics, suspension of Khan from organization for his anti-organisation activities.  During the meeting, existing working...

NDFB-S link men arrested

Security forces have intensified their combing operation against militant outfits in the region.  Three link men/over ground worker of the National Democratic Front of Boroland-Songbijit faction were apprehended by security forces in a joint operation at Ripu Reserve Forest on Sunday morning in Kokrajhar district. They were identified Sanjib Basumatary, Mirga Basumatary and Charan Basumatary. They were involved with extortion, collecting money and providing information to militants about movement of security forces. Three riffles, two live bullets and a mobile handset were recovered from their possession.  Security forces have launching combing operation against militant outfit...