Strengthening community mechanisms is the key to improving the fight against human trafficking in northeast India, the partners of the Swaraksha Anti-Human Trafficking (AHT) program have recommended.

To reduce the incidence of human trafficking, partners also propose building linkages and cooperation through community engagement to invoke greater ownership and accountability towards the cause.

A list of areas for improvement was suggested during the final review and reflection of the Anti-Human Trafficking Northeast Swaraksha program at the Northeast Diocesan Social Service Society (NEDSSS), Assam, attended by six partners from Assam and Arunachal Pradesh on March 16 and 17, 2023.

Among the areas of improvement guidelines for team and community, safeguarding aspects related to handling rescue, restoration, and repatriation; engaging children’s groups for pursuing charters of recommendation; joint programs with DCPU; data sharing; and a knowledge festival were prominent.

Trotting and endeavoring on the issue was tough and challenging for the majority on board, not because they were fresh to work but because this sensitive issue was new for many, yet the team did not cease. They endeavored till the end and have built communities’ trust and confidence in the combined initiatives and efforts of Caritas India wherever we were.

Being in the cluster program, partners were unable to travel in parallel as the context and velocity of each partner differed from their expertise. But every move and every difference added color and volume, which has contributed to reducing the incidences of human trafficking in the region.

The program has created positive change by upholding dignity through collective action fueled by community awareness. The engagement of youth and children as ambassadors/ volunteers, and Girl Champions of the community is one of the greatest achievements. The program has identified and adopted child-labor-free villages and established child-friendly corners in the program areas. Ripple effects are seen through combined efforts initiated at different levels to forge the fight against human trafficking.

Entrepreneurship has been accelerated at the local level to improve the livelihood situation and address poverty, which is the root cause of trafficking.
AHT partners re-imagine the program goal through a safeguarding lens. NEDAN and IDEA Itanagar partners suggested a list of 9 recommendations to improve the program.

1. Panchayat level information BOOTH center for potential migrants.
2. Information BOOTH Center is in the railway station and border areas.
3. Identification of migrant returnees during COVID
4. Linkage with DMC for re-enrollment in survival in the RMSA hostel, KGBV, RSSTC, and NRSTC.
5. Supplemental coaching in English, Mathematics, and Science for matric candidates from the project area.
6. Campus talks on trafficking and safe migration in universities and colleges, etc
7. Engagement in Mission Vatsalya
8. Source and destination stakeholders’ consultation Interstate and cross border collaboration and coordination on safe migration, safeguarding, and trafficking.
9. Round table conference with AHT parliamentary committees

The two-day meeting was facilitated by Ms. Babita Pinto, Head of Programs (HoP), Mr. Jonas Lakra, Zonal Program Lead at Caritas India, and Ms. Ruth Chihanphi, the Program Associate of AHT NE Zone. Altogether, 26 members attended this crucial review and reflection meeting. The members present were partner directors, regional program coordinators, community outreach workers, and community educators from the five pioneering Caritas India anti-human trafficking programs in the region.

The review culminated with a lot of insight and in-depth reflection for the future. Ms. Babita Pinto shared tips on the community’s exit strategy, emphasizing the importance of ensuring the program’s continuity beyond projects with community responsibility and efforts.