DRDA kicks off pilot project to contain it
Distress migration of a large number of tribal youths is a regular affair and has been a cause of concern in the tribals-dominated Sundargarh district. The vulnerability of the tribal youths to the promise of various brokers, who have formed a trafficking racket, has given rise to human trafficking in the district.
Recently, a racket was busted by the Sundargarh police who rescued as many as 93 youths while being taken to Goa and arrested 12 brokers.
Considering human trafficking as major concern in Sundargarh district, recently the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) has kicked off a pilot project to ascertain the reason of trafficking from the district and find out its remedies.
Although exploitation of migrant labourers is going unabated, but there has been no halt in the exodus as the tribal youths as they continue to get lured by the false promises of the brokers and look for greener pasture in far-off places.
Activists blame lack of adequate work due to closure of mines and related private sector units as the reason behind the large-scale migration.
They argue that since the avenues for the persons looking to be engaged as unskilled labour have been squeezed due to sudden closure of about a dozen of mines and many private units, these persons have no other option than to move to far off places to work as migrant labourers, even though they are aware of the hardships.
“Most importantly, the traditional tribal livelihood opportunities like income from forest produce and agriculture are on the wane in the district, which have been a major reason of migration from the district,” said NGO activist Subhashree Ray.
At times the youths are considering migration as an opportunity for their career growth. “During interrogation of the rescued youths, we came to know that maximum of them were quite keen to move to Goa, as they consider this as good opportunity,” said Sundargarh SP Dayanidhi Gochayat.
“They confessed that they get better respect in their villages and even better marriage proposals, when they return from places like Goa,” Gochayat said, adding, “Although they have heard of exploitation of the persons, who have gone earlier, they ignore those, expecting a better deal with them.”
The DRDA’s pilot project will go a long way to ascertain the reason of trafficking from the district and find out its remedies. The process has started.
As a part of the project, a team of experts will conduct a detail survey in trafficking prone Balisankara block of the district and accordingly recommend remedial measures to address the issue,” informed DRAD Project director UN Das.