MHA asks states to set up more anti-human trafficking units amid COVID-19

The Union Home Ministry (MHA) has asked all the state governments to set up more anti-human trafficking units (AHTUs), being aware of the fact that human traffickers might take advantage of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic situation targeting people facing trauma and violence.

New Delhi: Being aware of the fact that human traffickers might take advantage of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic situation targeting people facing trauma and violence, the Union Home Ministry (MHA) has asked all the state governments to set up more anti-human trafficking units (AHTUs).

The advisory has highlighted that Panchayats may be asked to maintain a register of complete information about the persons living in the village and keep track of their movements.

The Ministry has asked State Government and UTs to expedite the setting up of new AHTUs and upgrade the infrastructure of the existing all.

The advisory with the subject line "Preventing and Combating Human Trafficking During COVID-19 Pandemic" issued by MHA said that domestic violence, emotional or psychological abuse, neglect and other forms of trauma and violence makes a person vulnerable to human trafficking.

The advisory has also asked the state governments to set up a coordination mechanism, monitored at periodic intervals at the highest level in the state and UTs.

"Traffickers often exploit the vulnerabilities of people by making false promises of a good job, better income, better living conditions, etc," the advisory issued recently to the States and UTs said.

The advisory issued extra caution over children as traffickers often target child for wage labour.

"Children can be transported at a large scale for wage labour, prostitution and trafficking," said the advisory. It has suggested that district administrations might take a lead role in indulging village panchayats to fight the menace.

The advisory also asked for sensitization of police personnel over the menace.

"The police force should make proper and full use of CCTNS and CriMAC applications, launched by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) earlier this year," the advisory said.

It said that police officer, especially those handling cases of human trafficking, should be trained and sensitized at regular intervals.

"It should focus on imparting knowledge of the substantial and procedural laws, court rulings, administrative procedures, skills in child-friendly investigation, including interviewing, interrogation, scientific data collection, presentation in the court of law, networking with the prosecutors, facilitating victims/witness protection programme act," the advisory said.

It may be mentioned here that NCRB launched the portal to help the state governments to communicate with each other and get the support for tracing and identifying the victims of human trafficking.

Government records said that there are more than 330 anti-human trafficking units across India and support the central government to fight the menace.

In 2018, near about 4000 human trafficking cases were registered across India and the victims were mainly girl, women and children.

As per NCRB data, there were 38,503 victims of human trafficking between 2011 and 2019.

"Majority of the victims were either put into prostitution or forced to domestic labour in states like Rajasthan, Haryana and even in Delhi," an official said.