Building the community’s capacity in identifying and addressing risks of Human Trafficking and enabling them to assist vulnerable populations are the focus of the ‘Unsafe Migration & Combating Human Trafficking’ workshop held at Sarupathar, Assam on 13th September 2022. The day brought together stakeholders from across the public and private sector including Mondols, PRI members, Student Associations, SHG leaders, Health workers, the Transport department, village headman and local NGOs.

The workshop is organized by Caritas India Anti-Human Trafficking partner, Seva Kendra Dibrugarh, who is actively working to eliminate human trafficking in the area. The Workshop aimed to bring together and built the community’s capacity in identifying and addressing risks of Human Trafficking and enable them to further assist vulnerable populations in their respective areas. The workshop had two major aspects: Overview and basic legal provisions relating to human rights fundamental.

Ms. Ruth Chihanphi, Programme Associate from Caritas India shared an overview of the Anti-Human Trafficking & unsafe Migration in the Northeast. She presented the alarming issues of Human Trafficking & unsafe migration in Northeast areas citing a few incidents which occurred recently in Silchar and Rangapara. She mentioned women as agents of trafficking in several instances and also share that relative, who has also become another channel to the supply chain the human slavery. Most of the outside traffickers now do not enter the state but engage local agents in local areas and it has become a big networking partner business, wherein even Goan Bura has also been found as an agent.

Information about legal aspects was shared by Sri Jitumoni Deka, S.I Officer In-charge of Sarupathar P.S and Sri Efren Lakra, Block Programme Manager of Sarupathar block. Sri Jitumoni Deka, S.I, Officer In-charge Sarupathar P.S in his deliberation said that Human Trafficking is a crime where the human being is deceitfully and fraudulently taken by another person. He said that if any girl child is missing say if she is minor (below 18yrs) then a case can be registered immediately under Sec- 371 & 373 IPC. But if she is an adult say (above 18 yrs), then a missing case is filed that too after 24 hrs of her missing. Sri Jitumoni informed that the Government of Assam Police had published Guidelines to Combat Human Trafficking, where AHTU has been created and operationalized in all districts of Assam to combat crimes related to trafficking of persons, especially women and children. In this guideline, there is one Investigation Officer in each district.

Responding to the query about filing a case without ID proof, Sri Jitumoni Deka replied that even without any ID proof a case can be registered for a missing person. ID proof is needed for the speedy recovery of a missing person only.

Sri Efren Lakra, Block program manager (BPM) of Sarupathar Block, in his deliberation, highlighted the 6 (six) fundamental rights of human being focusing mostly on the Right to Education. Because if a child is educated, he/she will think twice before they get cheated or get lured by the existing agent in the area.

Lastly, Smti Anila Toppo Community Outreach worker of Seva Kendra Dibrugarh highlighted a few missing incidents in local areas where people trafficked by local agents were successfully rescued by the SKD team with the support of the local police department.

The workshop culminated with the key action points including the initiation of a Child-friendly Center in the local P.S. ( Sarupathar) and convincing the Govt. to give a Childline in the district.