Stakeholders from all over Jharkhand will sit down to discuss best possible changes in the existing legislations pertaining to children during a sensitisation cum discussion session by Jharkhand State Child labour Commission.
The workshop will see participation from Government bodies, police forces and non-government organisations on Friday.
“Representatives of NCPCR, SCPCR and the Commission, along with police officials from Crime Investigation Department, senior Government officials from State Women and Child Development Department and NGOs working against child labour and human trafficking will pool their ideas to chalk out probable amendments in Juvenile Justice Act, POCSO Act, Child labour Act and other,” stated Shanti Kindo, Chairperson of Jharkhand State Child labour Commission during a press conference on Thursday.
Unable to seek education, a 15-year old girl from Gumla saw promise in working in a metropolitan city which ultimately made her a victim of human trafficking. She and four other minor girls trafficked from various districts of Jharkhand were brought back to Ranchi on Thursday.
These victims of human trafficking were rescued from New Delhi by Jharkhand Kisan Sangh and State chapter of Action against Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation of Children (ATSEC) at the behest of Jharkhand State Child labour Commission.
Two of these girls hail from Sahibganj whereas the rest belong to West Singhbhum, Khunti and Gumla; which fall in the list of districts most affected by human trafficking in Jharkhand.
“The problem of human trafficking persisted even in undivided Bihar, but the situation has somewhat improved after certain authorities were constituted to look into the matter when Jharkhand was carved out,” said Kindo.
“These authorities alone will not prove fruitful in fighting human trafficking until we are sensitive towards children. We do not have adequate child homes to house children in need,” stated Sanjay Kumar Mishra, Secretary, Bharatiya Kisan Sangh.
He further stated, “Instead of emphasising on rescuing victims of human trafficking, Government should focus on the source of the problem. Providing education and creating job opportunities are imperative.”
Exemplifying his statement, Mishra stated that around 90 per cent of the girls they have saved have been enrolled in KGBVs and none of them have migrated to other cities for working.
“District administrations have been ordered to enrol these five rescued girls in local KGBVs. They will also be compensated in accordance to new child labour legislations,” said Mishra.
“Panchayati Raj representatives will have to be vigilant so as to limit the reach of elements trafficking gullible villagers from Jharkhand. Moreover, village-level youth bodies will have to be aware of the problem of human trafficking; they have a crucial role to play in this matter,” Kindo said.