Rise in child trafficking cases across the country, which remained unreported at police stations and media, put a big question mark on the existing laws made for protection of children trafficked for various anti-social activities and child labour.
The Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) movement that works for protection of children (in need of care and protection) director Dr Sampurna Behura claimed that BBA activists had rescued 60 trafficked children from Guwahati in last six months.
Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!
“But interestingly, not a single FIR was lodged at any police station,” Behura claimed.
Addressing the media persons, Behura stressed the need to take immediate steps by the Government to curb the acts of crime against the children.
Bringing allegations against the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Central Government for not taking any initiative for the protection of child rights and trafficked children except formulation of laws, Behura questioned, “Where is the implementation of the laws?”
Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!
She alleged that the Government did not give importance on the implementation of the laws.
“No laws that made for protection of children are being followed in the entire country. Children are being ignored by the Government,” Behura said.
Behura also said, “Judiciary has done their part. They gave the verdict and order. But we haven’t noticed any initiative in the entire country. No Deputy Commissioner, District Magistrate, legislator or MPs visit children homes in their respective areas.”
“There are a large number of vacancies in the Child Welfare Committees (CWC) of different States. The State Child Protection Society (SCPS) has not functioning properly,” Behura alleged.
Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation director Rakesh Senger alleged that the Central Government has failed to control crimes against children.
“Incidents of trafficking, child labour and sexual assault of minor girls are occurring under the nose of the Government even after presence of various acts. The main problem is absence of monitoring of the implementation of laws in the ground level,” Seneger said.
Senger questioned, “Why should we have to wait for an incident to take actions?”
The BBA conducted a training programme for law enforcement agencies on the existing laws for protection of children in Guwahati on Friday.
BBA aims to equip every stakeholder with able understanding and knowledge of laws to achieve effective implementation of initiatives that strive towards protecting and securing future of children.
BBA director Behura also expressed grave concern over the delay of the passage of the Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill 2018 in a press conference held in Guwahati on Friday.