IMPHAL, Jan 31: Beginning from 2008 till 2011, the state has witnessed 246 cases of child trafficking,many cases are seemingly still unreported and may be just the tip of the iceberg.
The fact was stated by K Pradip Singh,member secretary of Child Welfare Committee , Bishnupur at a one day orientation program on Human Trafficking held at Lake View Hotel at Moirang. The program was organized by the Social Welfare Department and participated by youths from Bishnupur and Churachandpur district yesterday.
Pradip further spoke on the definition, dynamics and magnitude of human trafficking in Manipur.He stated that three are mainly three types of trafficking, viz. Drugs trafficking , which is the most lucrative trade and followed by Arms trafficking and next is the issue of human trafficking.At present , the trade in human trafficking has surpassed the arms trafficking and has become more widespread. Six to eight lacs individuals are trafficking in a year among international and national borders and largely involves women and children, he said.
Further,the objective of the traffickers is to offer lucrative jobs abroad and in other states, mainly free education, free shelter, placements in beauty parlors, spas etc. The trafficker may pose as a samaritan and try to gain the trust of the family and the individual and may even give the offers through the media.
Mentioning instances of children and women from Manipur being trafficked, he said that at least nearly a hundred children were rescued from other states like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Delhi etc .Some teenage girls were rescued from entering the sex trade by force, he mentioned.
Pradip stated that the family members and individuals should discern the possibilities of getting a good future for their wards and self, else there is every possibility of becoming a victim of human trafficking. Blaming the ineffectiveness of the education sector of the state and lack of unemployment as the main causes of falling prey to trafficking, he said that the state government should initiate steps to curb trafficking.The program was attended by Bishnupur Child Welfare Committee chairperson, L Pishak Singh and Ch Tampakleima,district protection officer, ICDS, Bishnupur.
