Odisha proposes radical reform in policy “Nutan Sakala” to curb trafficking of women, girls
Worried by ignominy of recording highest number of human trafficking victims in India for four consecutive years, Odisha has proposed a new State policy, “Nutan
Worried by ignominy of recording highest number of human trafficking victims in India for four consecutive years, Odisha has proposed a new State policy, “Nutan Sakala” (New Dawn), to curb trafficking of women and girls through measures from community-based prevention to confiscation of assets linked to trafficking networks. The draft copy of the policy being prepared by Women and Child Development Department has been circulated among top police brass including Director General of Police, DG (Crime Branch) and Addition DG (Crime Against Women and Child Wing) for their opinion. The policy has adopted some good practices of other States and even foreign countries. “Nutana Sakala is Odisha’s unified policy framework for addressing all forms of trafficking relating to women and girls. The framework is built on four pillars such as prevention, protection, prosecution, and partnership to ensure a comprehensive and coordinated response,” says the draft policy. What made the Odisha resort to radical measures to address the issue?
It’s alarming trafficking profile. Total number of humans trafficked from Odisha as per Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) statistics were 1475 (2021), 1120 (2022), 1305 (2023) and 1039 (2024) as against annual national average of 6158 during this period. “Despite maintaining 36 Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs), the State has reported near-zero conviction rates in certain years, revealing a deep structural gap between rescue and justice. Women and girl children are the major victims of the evil practice,” the government admits in the document. Vulnerable factors those lead to trafficking include 83.3% rural population with limited access to formal markets and social protection (Census 2011), 22.85% Scheduled Tribe population, disproportionately represented among trafficking victims due to poverty, social exclusion, and limited legal literacy, Female literacy at 64% vs 82% male — education gap creating differential vulnerability and Over 20 lakh seasonal migrant workers who are primarily vulnerable migrate annually. Districts including Balangir, Bargarh, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Subarnapur, Sundergarh, Khorda, Ganjam, Puri, Gajapati, Kendrapada, Rayagada, Koraput and Nabarangpur are chronic source districts for distress migration and trafficking.
Many end up being caught up in sexual exploitation, forced labour, domestic servitude and forced marriage. The policy proposes to prevent trafficking at the source, particularly in vulnerable communities, schools, panchayats, and digital spaces through life-skills education, safe migration measures, demand-reduction initiatives and community-based tools such as village migration registers. Upon their rescue, the State, as per draft document, proposes to put in place protection and survivor support mechanisms ensuring that every trafficking survivor receives timely, trauma-informed, gender-sensitive, and rights-based care. Integrated Victim Support Centres (IVSCs) are also proposed to be established at the State and district levels which will provide a single-window platform for medical care, legal aid, psychosocial counselling, and referral services. The government is contemplating on addressing rehabilitation of survivors through six key aspects - livelihood, healthcare, education, housing, foster care, and restoration or repatriation. Odisha is troubled by embarrassing record in prosecution and legal accountability. The State recorded ‘Zero’ convictions in 2021 despite 707 survivors identified and 65 traffickers arrested while only 182 of 298 arrested persons were charge-sheeted in 2023 with 61% charge-sheeting rate.
The BriefWire