Shivamogga Deputy Commissioner calls for unified efforts to combat human trafficking
Shivamogga Deputy Commissioner Prabhulinga Kavalikatti has stressed the need for coordination among departments to stop human trafficking, an organised crime that can have an extremely
Shivamogga Deputy Commissioner Prabhulinga Kavalikatti has stressed the need for coordination among departments to stop human trafficking, an organised crime that can have an extremely damaging effect on society. Speaking at a programme organised to mark World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on Thursday, Mr. Kavalikatti said human trafficking was earlier understood mainly in terms of child labour, bonded labour, and begging. It has now evolved into a multi-dimensional organised crime, he said. Childrenās excessive dependence on mobile phones and their falling into the control of strangers through social media, leading some to run away from home has increased the risk of children being drawn into trafficking networks, he opined.
Physical exploitation of women and children, forced labour, sexual exploitation, and drawing them into child labour, bonded labour, and begging amount to serious human rights violations, he said, calling on all departments to take strict action, with priority given to awareness generation and protection. Highlighting that practices such as child labour, bonded labour, exploitation of migrant workers, begging, prostitution, child sexual abuse, forced child marriage, misuse of the adoption process, and drug peddling are a curse on society, the DC said Karnataka had become the first State in the country to bring out a āStandard Operating Procedure guideline bookā to eliminate these practices.
He also urged officers not to limit themselves to the guidelines alone but to act proactively, adding that protecting victims, ensuring their rehabilitation, and securing appropriate punishment for the accused were essential. Santosh M.S., Member Secretary of the District Legal Services Authority, expressed regret that women and children, who play a
key role in nation-building, continue to fall victim to human trafficking. He appealed to officers to work towards preventing such cases. Shivamogga SP Nikhil B., District Health and Family Welfare Officer K.S. Nataraj, Deputy Director of the Social Welfare Department Malleshappa D., District Labour Officer Venugopal M.P., and others were present.
The BriefWire