Dimapur — With 83% cases of missing individuals below 18 years reported from Nagaland coupled with 13% of missing cases attributed to trafficking, Nagaland has earned the notoriety as a major point of human trafficking in India.
This was disclosed by the legal-cum-probation officer (LCPO), Moajungla, during the ‘World Day Against Trafficking’ programme organised jointly by the Dimapur district administration, district hub for empowerment of women under Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Sakhi-One Stop Centre (OSC), Dimapur, in collaboration with Childline, Dimapur, held at Prodigals’ Home on Saturday on the theme “Reach every woman of trafficking: Leave no one behind.”
Moajungla stated that Northeast region remained vulnerable due to wealth disparity and lack of employment opportunities.
Referring to report, she informed that a total of 28 victims were rescued from 2015 to 2021 out of which 26 were female. She has attributed to migration of people from village to town and cities, unemployment, poverty, lack of education, substance abuse, conflict and natural disasters etc.
On the challenges in combating trafficking, she has attributed victims’ reluctance to report due to shame, stigma, fear, trauma and threats from high-profile perpetrators or mafia.
Also speaking on the occasion, the additional deputy commissioner of police (ADCP) for women and juveniles, Dr. Taimenla Phom, has attributed the alarming rise of trafficking cases to increasing unemployment rate in Nagaland.
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]She was of the opinion that under severe financial constraints, they become an easy prey to false promises of job opportunities outside the state and end up becoming victims of trafficking.
Dr. Phom, therefore, stressed on the importance of equipping the police force with specialised training to effectively investigate human trafficking cases. She added that only the police and a handful of dedicated NGOs working in the field are fully aware of the gravity of the situation.
She further encouraged the gathering to actively engage in creating awareness and educating the masses about human trafficking. She urged everyone not to limit such seminars to just a particular day but to make it a regular and continuous affair.
Penal lawyer of the Dimapur district legal services authority (DDLSA), Khumchuba, delivered short speech on legal mechanism to tackle human trafficking, where they provide free legal services to ST, SC, and individual earning less than INR 1 lakh annually. He has encouraged the public to make use of the free legal services provided by the authority.
The general secretary of Baptist Youth Fellowship, Dimapur, Tovikali Shohe, also spoke on the role of civil societies in preventing human trafficking.