In a major breakthrough, the girl from Nepal is rescued through the joint operation of Anti Human Trafficking Unit, CWPO & Women Protection officer, ChildLine & Swaraksha AHT Team in Uttar Pradesh during the rescues & Awareness Campaign initiated by UP Mahila Samman Prakoshtha.

The Indo-Nepal relations are quite unique, often this relation is for work or marriages across the border. This relation was further strengthened between both the countries when the Nepal Prahari (Police) urged for the rescue of a Nepali woman who was kept as a hostage in the Orchestra a music party in the Kothibar area of Maharajganj District, Uttar Pradesh.

According to the Nepal Police, a woman Neha (Name Changed) from Bharatpur area of Chitwan District married three years back and was getting abused by her husband. She left home and reached the border district of India for work. She was assisted by her sister who took her to an orchestra for work where after some time she got married and being exploiting and kept captive. Somehow, she managed to inform her families about the condition and the family put up a complaint to the Nepal police.

The Covid-19 lockdown and closure of international borders have curtailed all operations in the area. The Nepal police requested the Shashstra Seema Bal in writing and the border force approached Purvanchal Gramin Sewa Samiti (PGSS), a Caritas India Partner. PGSS team shared the information with the District Anti Human Trafficking Unit and started the rescue plan of the girl.

The Ministry of Home Affairs also released an advisory to all the State Govt about the chances of increase human trafficking and child labour cases due to Covid-19 pandemic. Nodal Agencies were kept on high alert to observe and report any abuse-related cases from the state.

In response to the MHA Advisory, the state Govt. initiated a one-month Campaign to Rescue the Child Labor & Trafficking Cases. During this Campaign, the team was organized under the supervision of District Probationary officer where Anti Human Trafficking unit took the lead for this rescue operation with the support of CWPO & Women Protection officer, ChildLine and Swaraksha AHT Team.  The Joint Rescue operation was done at the premises where the girl was kept in the Orchestra & after the police action, another girl also urged to go out of the orchestra where they were being exploited.

This was a great achievement for the Rescue team where the team expected to rescue one girl but they were able to rescue two girls. After this rescue PGSS team did the counselling of these two girls and handover to Police to produce before CWC & DPO for the legal formalities. After the enquiry of CWC & DPO, these two were released for the rehabilitation in Nepal with the support of Nepal Police & the NGO.

This Campaign proved as the lifesaving action for these two Girls where they could not believe that they can be get rid of the clutches of the Orchestra owners who were exploiting them from the last eight months. The partners initiative & good rapport with the stakeholders not only helped in rescuing these Girls but it has alarmed the Orchestra masters to avoid the malpractices with the girls working in the Orchestra for their livelihood.