Additional Superintendent of Police Maharajganj District, Shri Nivesh Katiyaar at a workshop said the District has to be free from human trafficking and full efforts will be made at every level through regular meetings of SJPU (Special Jewel Police Unit) & AHTU (Anti Human Trafficking Unit) human trafficking will be controlled with mutual Coordination & understanding.

One day workshop was organized jointly with Police & Key stakeholders like CWC & border forces involved fifty participants including Police Personnel’s from AHTUs, SJPUs & CWC Members for an orientation and learn the nitty-gritty of different child-related laws like Juvenile Justice Act, POCSO Act, Child Labor Prohibition Act & ITPA. 

Purvanchal Gramin Sewa Samiti, Gorakhpur is one of the diligent partners of Caritas India for the Swaraksha Anti-Human Trafficking programme working meticulously at the Indo-Nepal border in last three years. Even during Covid-19 lockdown, the programme was active to avert any human trafficking activity in the region. The Partners has not only supported the Covid-19 affected families with dry Rations but also served cooked meal to needy migrant workers and hygiene kits. To ensure the well-being of families & children at the time of the pandemic, small awareness & sensitization activities were organised to disseminate the information on Covid-19 preventive measures. 

One of the major concern amidst Covid-19 was of the safety of children from being trafficked or put into Child labour. The issue was seriously taken as the matter of attention and campaign “Say No to Child Labor” was launched by the State Government with NGOs & other agencies. The law enforcement agencies of the State are on alert for this campaign and invited PGSS Swaraksha AHT program partners to orient their staff on different Child-related & Human Trafficking laws.

Shri Nivesh Katiyaar ASP Maharajganj District inaugurated the workshop by lighting the lamp with Deputy Commandant SSB, CWPO & Director PGSS. Fr. Jaison Manuel, Director of PGSSS shared the last three years intervention of Swaraksha AHT Program in the District. He informed that the PGSS team of AHT Program supported by Caritas India is actively involved in creating awareness & sensitizing community members against Human Trafficking as the communities near the Indo-Nepal Border are living in a vulnerable condition and are at the peril of being Trafficked. He also informed about the role and involvement of vigilance & Interception of the suspected travellers at the border transition point at Toothibari & Sonauli.   

Shrawan Kumar, Intervention officer from Swaraksha AHT Program shared that Human trafficking is touted as the world’s third-largest organized crime, with 80 percent trafficking for sexual exploitation. He shared about the cause of enticing children from poor families from backward areas in most of the Trafficking Cases and appealed for collaboration to prevent this heinous crime. 

The former member of the Child Welfare Committee, Gorakhpur and the Resource person of the workshop, Dr. Mumtaz Khan shared about the Juvenile Justice Act. He informed that it is a law for the protection of the rights of children in which care and protection is mentioned. Explaining different sections of the law related to the Police, he discussed how children trapped in the law needs to be helped. He further mentioned the role of the Child Welfare Officer, Child Welfare Committee and the duty of each citizen while giving information on the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act on POCSO Act. 

Childline Coordinator shared ‘Say no to Child Child Labor’ Campaign will be successful through the Joint efforts of everyone. The SSB Commandant assured the soldiers on the border to cooperate at every level and put all effort to stop human trafficking through networking. CWC member, AHTU in charge & other Stakeholders also shared their insights to support the ongoing campaigns against child labour and said that this kind of platform plays an important role to do the work more effectively.