The NHRC recommends that all states have a “central anti-human trafficking officer”

New Delhi: The NHRC has recommended that every state should have a “central anti-human trafficking officer” who will coordinate with government authorities in taking effective measures to combat this menace.

This officer should not hold the rank of secretary of a state government or inspector general of police, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said in a statement on Friday.

The Commission's recommendations follow its findings in a case registered suo motu in October 2022 based on a media report alleging that girls were “sold on stamp paper in half a dozen districts” of Rajasthan and sent to Uttar Pradesh, Madhya. Pradesh, Mumbai, Delhi and in foreign countries and “subjected to physical violence, torture and sexual assault in slavery”, it says.

The Commission also took note of the plight of bar dancers in Mumbai who were trafficked from Rajasthan and “forced into prostitution”, as highlighted in its special rapporteur's report, the rights panel said.

“Accordingly, he directed the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, Rajasthan to send a team, headed by an officer, of at least the rank of Inspector General of Police, for an inquiry to Mumbai to to discover the fate of girls who dance in bars,” he said.

The Commission has requested the Maharashtra DGP to assist the Rajasthan Police in this regard to take effective measures to prevent such incidents and ensure their repatriation to their native places and state and district level committees ensure their rehabilitation in accordance with the instructions issued by this, the statement said.

The NHRC observed that in view of the recent recording of cases of “selling of girls” in some communities, it appears that this practice “continues unabated” and “prevails undeterred”.

He said this practice must be immediately curbed in its entirety and “strict measures” must be taken by all stakeholders, the statement said.

The Commission had sought reports from the chief secretary and DGP of Rajasthan as well as its special rapporteur on the issue in the past, he said.

The state government confirmed the incident and said a chargesheet had been filed against all 23 accused. The seven girls, victims of trafficking, were rehabilitated at Nari Niketan Girl's Reform Home, Ajmer and Nati Niketan, Ajmer respectively, he said.

According to the Special Rapporteur's report, the Commission noted that the sale of women on stamp papers is a “dominant practice” in the male-dominated Kanjar community and that the immoral practice of trafficking in girls is endemic. in certain communities residing in various regions of the country. Rajasthan. The young girls and sisters were “forced into the sex trade”, the rights committee said.

Therefore, to end this menace, the Commission recommended that all states should have a nodal anti-human trafficking officer, who will coordinate with the government in taking effective measures through the units District Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (DAHTU) and the concerned state government. , indicates the press release.

The Commission also recommended that the DAHTUs, which were to be set up as part of an overall project, as notified by the Union Home Ministry in earlier circulars, should be headed by a gazetted officer, without having the rank of a deputy SP.

It should effectively monitor such incidents with the help of representatives of the Ministries of Women and Child Welfare, Health and Family Welfare, Labor and Employment, local NGOs reputable and experts in the field of human trafficking and legal advisors in the district, he added. .

Recommending various functions of DAHTUs, including combating human trafficking and rehabilitation of victims, the Commission issued notices to the Chief Secretaries of all States and Union Territories to submit reports on the compliance within eight weeks, the press release said.

The State or UT Governments are therefore enjoined to take all effective measures to prevent such practices from prevailing in certain communities and to eradicate child prostitution and also for effective and adequate rehabilitation and reintegration “sexually ravaged minor girls” by integrating them into society by providing adequate relief and rehabilitation available under various state schemes, he added.

State or UT governments, through local government, as recommended by the Commission, have a duty to publicize the constitutional prohibition that prevents child prostitution and to educate the people about the sale of minor girls on stamp papers and their illegal marriage, in order to eradicate such practices, the statement said.

The Commission also observed that despite the strict provisions of the law and the judgments of the Supreme Court and the Madhya Pradesh High Court in different cases referring to human trafficking, it cannot be said that the desired outcome has been reached, she said.

In this context, the Commission has noted in its proceedings the specific references to the orders of the Supreme Court in various cases, it said.