The Draft Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill 2016 released by the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development for public opinion may be well-intended but in its present form, it is inadequate and incomplete as a national law, opined speakers in a meeting here.
The meeting was organised here by the Odisha Alliance for Child Rights, DUCOM campaign, PECUC, NACG-EVAC, TdH and a host of voluntary organisations and networks.
Presiding over the introductory session, OACR chairperson Ranjan Kumar Mohanty said the intention of bringing the draft bill by the Centre was highly welcomed, but the nation needs a stringent legislation to prevent and combat trafficking of persons.
Speaking on the occasion, Razia Ismail of India Alliance for child Rights told that it did not define what human trafficking is and it must do so in conformity with internationally accepted interpretation and standards which India has accepted.
Participating in the discussion, many eminent dignitaries opined that in seeking public comments and recommendations, the Government should be open to setting up a working group of informed and qualified persons to develop a draft of the standard and substance. The revised Bill should be sent to a select committee of Parliament for due study and assessment too, the participants viewed.
The draft bill must adequately address the prevention, rehabilitation and protection issues along with penal provisions, they opined. Among others, former District Judge RS Mishra, CYSD chairman PK Sahoo, ClAP Dr Bikash Das, Harihar Naik of CCRP, advocates Dhaneswar Mohanty, Sidhartha Mishra and Ghasiram Panda of Action Aid spoke.
The discussion was co-chaired and facilitated by Prakash Rath and Umesh Purohit.