Swaraksha”, a community awakening campaign against human trafficking organised by the US Consulate General-Hyderabad and ‘Prajwala’, a Hyderabad-based anti-trafficking organisation, in association with Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), concluded on Saturday in KISS premises.
Speaking on the occasion, KIIT and KISS founder Dr Achyuta Samanta said poverty and lack of education are the main factors behind human trafficking. Many young girls in rural areas are becoming the victims of human trafficking due to poverty and lack of education, Dr Samanta elaborated, adding that KISS model, which has been promoting education to eradicate poverty for last 25 years, is the only solution.
US Consulate General Public Affairs Officer Gabriel Olivier said the US Government is very concerned about the issues like human trafficking. Human right is the topmost priority of US foreign policy and the US Government is working to end this inhuman crime, he stated, while eliciting support of all.
Chief functionary and co-founder, Prajwala Padmashri Dr Sunitha Krishnan said, “We all are responsible for human trafficking because of our silence, tolerance and lack of awareness. We need to be intolerance to end this crime.” All of us should ensure a safe world for our daughters and sisters, she added.
“Swaraksha” campaign was launched on January 9 last from Hyderabad and covered 53 districts of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. On the concluding day of the campaign, a motorcycle rally was organised from Patia square to KIIT campus here. Among others, Swaraksha programme coordinator Ahmed Ali and volunteers and officials of Prajwala were present.