(a) whether the Government has issued any advisory to the States/UTs on measures to be taken
for combating trafficking of women and children for sexual exploitation;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Supreme Court has constituted a panel to suggest measures for the
rehabilitation of sex workers;
(d) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government thereon and the present
status thereof; and
(e) the other measures being taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI KRISHNA TIRATH)
(a)to (e) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (e) LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 76 TO BE
ANSWERED ON 01ST MARCH, 2013 ASKED BY SHRI KAPIL MUNI KARWARIYA AND SHRI RAM SUNDER DAS
REGARDING SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN
(a) Yes Madam. The Government of India has been advising the State Governments from time to time
for improving the enforcement mechanism for combating trafficking of women and children
(b) The Ministry of Women and Child Development issued an Advisory to States/UTs on 12.10.2011,
emphasizing on, inter alia, gender sensitization of the police personnel, minimizing delays in
investigations of crime against women, setting up ‘Crime against Women Cells’ in districts where
these do not exist; adopting a victim centric approach in human trafficking cases, creating
Special Juvenile Police Units, and conducting regular meetings of the State Advisory Committees
for preventing and combating trafficking of women and children for commercial sexual exploitation.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in consultation with Ministry of Women and Child Development
(MWCD) also issued various advisories to States/UTs on measures needed for preventing and
combating crime of human trafficking e.g. Advisory on preventing and combating human trafficking
in India(9th September 2009), Advisory on Missing children (31st January 2012), Advisory to treat
human trafficking as organized crime,(30th April 2012) and Advisory on preventing and combatting
human trafficking – dealing with foreign national (1st May 2012).
(c) Yes Madam.
(d) In connection with the Criminal Appeal No. 135 of 2010 in the case of Buddhadev Karmaskar vs.
State of West Bengal, the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, vide its order dated 19/07/2011,
constituted a Panel under the Chairmanship of Shri Pradip Ghosh, Senior Advocate, to advice
the Court in matters of
(i) Prevention of trafficking,
(ii) Rehabilitation of sex workers who
wish to leave sex work, and
(iii) Conditions conducive for sex workers who wish to continue
working as sex workers with dignity. The other Members of the Panel are:
i. Mr.Jayant Bhushan, Senior Counsel.
ii. Usha Multipurpose Co-operative Society through its President/Secretary.
iii. Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee through its President/ Secretary.
iv. Roshni through Ms.SalmaHasan 152, Golf Links, New Delhi
v. Shri Ravi Kant, Shakti Vahini, New Delhi
vi. Ms Preeti Patkar, Prerna, Mumbai
vii. Ms Indumati, South India AIDS Action Programme, Chennai
viii. Shri Tariq Khan, Social Activist, Lucknow
The Ministry of Women and Child Development has provided the office space along with equipment and
personnel for functioning of the Panel and sanctioned Rs 10 lakhs for the purpose. So far, the
Panel has submitted eleven interim reports to the Hon’ble Court.
(e) The Government has adopted a multi-pronged approach to Prevent and Combat Trafficking of
women and children for Commercial Sexual Exploitation. The Ministry of Women and Child Development
administers the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 (ITPA). The Ministry is also implementing
“Ujjawalaâ€- a Comprehensive Scheme for Prevention of Trafficking and Rescue, Rehabilitation,
Re-Integration and Repatriation of Victims of Trafficking for Commercial Sexual Exploitation.
As on date, 228 projects have been supported under the Scheme, including 117 protective and
rehabilitative homes. Trafficked victims are also given shelter and support services in Short
Stay Homes and Swadhar Homes meant for women in difficult circumstances. Besides, the Ministry
is implementing the centrally sponsored Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) since 2009-10
for providing a safe and secure environment for overall development of children who are in need
of care and protection and children in conflict with law. The various components of the scheme
also include rescue and rehabilitation of children in difficult circumstances, which includes
trafficked and sexually exploited children.
The Ministry of Home Affairs is implementing a comprehensive Scheme for establishment of
integrated Anti Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) and capacity building of responders, including
Training of Trainers for strengthening the law enforcement response to human trafficking. So far
160 Anti Human Trafficking Units have been established.