Question : HUMAN TRAFFICKING

(a) whether the Government has released a standard operating procedure that should be adopted by the State Governments for safeguarding the interests of trafficked minors and children used as labourers;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has asked all the State Governments to treat cases relating to trafficked women and children as organised crimes;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) the details of the financial assistance provided for setting up Anti Human Trafficking Units to the States, State-wise; and

(f) the measures taken by the Government to curb human trafficking in the country?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI R.P.N. SINGH)

(a) & (b): Yes Madam, a Standard Operating Procedure(SOP) has been issued on 12th August, 2013 to All States/UTs to handle Trafficking of Children for Child Labour. SOP specifically mentions the measures to be taken for rescue of trafficked child labourers’ and action against the traffickers/employers.

(c) & (d): The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued an Advisory on 30th April, 2012 to provide guidelines to law enforcement agencies on the manner and modalities regarding effectively dealing with the organized crime aspect of human trafficking.

(e): The Ministry of Home Affairs has released funds to the tune of Rs. 8.717 crore in the year 2010-11 and Rs. 8.338 crore in the year 2011-12 for establishment of 225 AHTUs. Details of funds released to the State Governments during 2010-11 and 2011-12 are at Annexure-I.

(f): ‘Police’ and ‘Public Order’ being State subjects, the primary responsibility for preventing and combating the crime of human trafficking lies with the State Governments. The Government of India has adopted a multi-pronged approach to combat human trafficking including commercial sexual exploitation by setting up of Anti-Trafficking Nodal Cell in the Ministry of Home Affairs; launching of Certificate course on Anti-Human Trafficking by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) in partnership with the States; a comprehensive scheme for strengthening law enforcement response by establishing integrated Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) and massive sensitization, awareness and capacity building through Training of Trainers. Ministry of Women and Child Development also runs shelter based homes, such as Short Stay-Homes, Swadhar Homes for women in difficult circumstances including trafficked victims.