Hyderabad: A women’s group in Telangana and survivors of sex trafficking have demanded the safe passage of Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2018 in the Rajya Sabha.

Aparajitha Survivor's Forum of Prajwala and 30 survivors of sex trafficking held a press conference in Hyderabad on Thursday and said that the anti-trafficking bill be passed in the ongoing winter session of Parliament. The bill was passed by the Lok Sabha earlier this year. It will put an end to inter-state trafficking and recommends harsh punishments.

The bill creates dedicated institutional mechanisms at district, state and central level. These will be responsible for prevention, protection, investigation and rehabilitation work related to trafficking.  National Investigation Agency (NIA) will perform the tasks of Anti-Trafficking Bureau at the national level present under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The punishment ranges from rigorous minimum 10 years to life and fine not less than Rs 1 lakh.

Speaking to the media on Thursday, a victim of human trafficking, Nazia, who is now a member of the Aparajitha Survivor's Forum of Prajwala, requested for action against human traffickers.

She said, "I am Nazia. I was brought from West Bengal to Hyderabad. I am requesting you to raise your voice against human trafficking and save the lives of those girls."

Another member said, "The Telangana police works only in Telangana. Andhra Pradesh police works for only Andhra Pradesh. So there are chances of many people getting away with the crimes they have committed in other states. So, we need a police force at the national-level. It should look into these issues and take action."

 

According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Telangana is fourth in the country in human trafficking cases. Tamil Nadu, Assam and West Bengal have occupied the first three spots.

Reports claimed that most women being trafficked are not from rural areas, as was the case some years ago. Instead, most girls belong to middle-class families who want to pursue their career in the entertainment industry. Some are lured with job offers from abroad.

Also, there are a number of women who get trafficked in the name of marriage. Girls from poor families from south India, especially from regions that are drought-hit, are targeted and women are taken to north India on the pretext of marriage, later making them domestic workers and some are also assaulted. The families that are looking for migration due to drought are targeted, according to reports.