We can not combat human trafficking without addressing its root cause.  Human trafficking and migration are linked and heavily influenced.  There are various pull and push factors that drive people to migrate. Social, Political, Environmental and Economic factors are mainly responsible for people to leave their homes.

Economic migration, whether seasonal or permanent is the most common factor cited behind migration. People from poor developing areas move to the richer areas to get higher wages and better job opportunities.

Caritas India through its migration and human trafficking strategic theme is working towards reducing this social challenge. ‘Swaraksha’, an Anti-Human Trafficking program to combat human trafficking at Indo-Nepal Border is focusing its attention on prevention, protection, prosecution and partnership model to combat human trafficking.

Apart from awareness, Swaraksha programme is ensuring livelihood options for the people to prevent them from unsafe migration and being trapped in the hands of traffickers. Recently, Caritas India team visited the skill Training Centre of women at Baridya, Fakirpuri and Lucknow to meet the SHG Women to understand their views after becoming the group member.

Caritas India has partnered with Mahendra Skill Training Center to provide different job-oriented skill training to the women and girls of Shram Bihar Community under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY). It is a flagship scheme of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) implemented by National Skill Development Corporation to provide industry-relevant skill training for securing a better livelihood.

The training is provided to the women and girls (10-15 participants) in different batches to train on tailoring and start their source of livelihood. An MoU is signed between Small Industrial Development Bank of India (SIDBI) & Mahendra Skill Training Institute for providing Training and financial support to these women for initiating small entrepreneurship.