District level workshop on combating child trafficking in Kohima, organized by national commission for protection of child rights in collaboration with Nagaland state commission for protection of child rights and Seva Bharati Purbanchal was held at Hotel Japfü Kohima on Wednesday.
Kohima deputy commissioner, Gregory Thejawelie in his address said that state still a long way to go although there were many activities taken up for child rights. He reminded that society needed to give effort and support for children especially in regard to education and health care. Stating that many unreported cases against the children were happening in the society, DC challenged the concerned authority to know the actual problem facing society and bring to the public domain. He warned that unless the present trend happening in the society was checked, the condition may go from bad to worst.
Senior superintendent of police Kohima, Kevithüto Sophie in his address stated that minors were particularly vulnerable to trafficking as they are more easily manipulated and often don’t realize that they are the victims of the crime. He said child trafficking involves a number of complex crimes requiring law enforcement to collaborate with multiple community partners to identity and respond to child victims. SP informed that juvenile/children who happened to end up in Nagaland from different states were engaged as domestic helpers and at the same time abused and exploited by their employers.
He said with the proactive role of the child protection unit in creating public awareness and actively engaging in the protection and welfare of children in distress, there is decrease in the number of reported cases against abuse. However, he said actual figures could be higher as many victims are still not registering cases with the police, largely because they do not know the law or fear traffickers. He informed that hundreds of children were indirectly trafficked to Kohima as well as other districts inNagaland from rural areas on pretext of job, education and some family relation with the trafficker’s employer.
He informed that till date no anti-human trafficking cases have been registered in Kohima district, however some cases were registered under POSCSO Act in Kohima district in 2015, 8 cases, 10 cases in 2016, 7 in 2017, 4 in 2018 and 7 in 2019. He informed that under kohima district a child friendly police station at women station PS has been set up with children caricatures painted on the wall for friendly environment where OC and NGOs of women PS are the care taker of the children. He said DEF Kohima constituted anti-human trafficking unit with additional SP of police as nodal officer along with officers from the unit as members.
Member Nagaland state commission for protection of child Rights Ongbou Chang in his address said the demand for child domestic helper in the state was promoting human trafficking, where almost majority household in the urban towns have huge demand for child domestic helpers.
As reported from some source, he said that the demand for cheap labour and sex slaves especially in Dimapur and urban towns has opened doors for professional human traffickers to take the advantage. He reminded the gathering that it was high time to take critical measures and steps to foster the spread of education, create awareness among parents and communities, strict laws prohibiting child labour , to support various NGOs.
Senior technical expert – North east cell and education NCPCR Paresh Shah said several rights have been guaranteed to the children in the constitution of India, which enables states to make special provisions for children. He said government was committed to give children opportunities and facilities to develop in healthy atmosphere and ensure that their constitutional and legal rights were protected. He also shared the NCPCR composition, mandate under other child related Acts, key action areas U/S 13, CPCR Act , 2005, strategies for effective functioning and others.
Programme was attended by around 60 persons from concerned department, NGOs, police , administration, public and others.