Rajasthan DGP, Shri Bhupinder Singh, today launched Mukti Caravan – an awareness campaign of Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation (KSCF) against child trafficking in Jaipur. KSCF and Rajasthan police have officially joined hands to run this two-month long campaign to address the problem of trafficking of children and women.
Speaking on the launch, Shri. Dhananjay Tingal, Executive Director Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA), said, “We congratulate the Rajasthan police for the successful rescue of 137 children from Surat last month. We appreciate the partnership with Rajasthan police and Anti Human Trafficking Unit, Rajasthan, to work towards ending child trafficking in the state. The latest NCRB report says that Rajasthan was on sixth position in the country in 2018 in case of victims of trafficking being reported.” This partnership will also work towards making Rajasthan a child-friendly state.
“The Mukti Caravan will reach out to districts including Tonk, Bhilwara, Udaipur, Rajsamand, Chittorgarh, Pratapgarh and Banswara which are prone to human trafficking. It will focus on generating awareness on preventive procedures in place to combat trafficking”, Shri Tingal added. This Mukti Caravan will be led by Mukesh, a former child labourer, who was rehabilitated at Bal Ashram in Viratnagar, near Jaipur.
“Unlike many others who continue to languish in the captivity of traffickers, I was lucky enough to be rescued by BBA activists. I grew up at Bal Ashram and learned to live an independent life. It’s an honour for me to lead this anti-human trafficking campaign in the state. I would be spreading awareness about the menace of trafficking and child labour during the campaign,” said Mukesh. During the campaign, BBA will share with the public a helpline number 1800-102-7222 for quick action on instances of trafficking.
Led by child labour survivors, Mukti Caravan will act as an instrument of mass mobilisation against trafficking. As a part of this campaign, these young representatives will generate awareness by distributing pamphlets and holding discussions on the issue of child trafficking for forced labour, in public places like railway stations, bus stations and others. Activities like skits, poem recitation and screening of short films will be organised as appeals to take preventive action against trafficking.
“The Caravan will reach out to villages and towns prone to human trafficking,” Shri Tingal said, adding that KSCF appeals to the people to file complaints against child trafficking with the police and the foundation, using the helpline number. He urged the media to bring to light cases of trafficking in the state and help rehabilitate the children.
The district Anti-human Trafficking Units (AHTU) will accompany the KSCF activists in the Caravan to spread awareness about issues concerning the menace. The superintendents of police of the eight concerned districts will join the caravan as it travels in their jurisdiction. KSCF activists will engage with policemen and sensitise them about dealing with crimes against children as well as on issues concerning children in conflict with law. BBA has been working with Rajasthan police since 2015.
Last year, Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi met Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot emphasising upon strengthening AHTUs in the state to curb trafficking. Mr. Satyarthi has also extended support to the state government for combatting child marriages.
Mukti Caravan has been deployed as an instrument of mass mobilisation and awareness since 1997 to sensitise people on the issue of child trafficking and child labour in India.
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