ANTI HUMAN TRAFFICKING PROGRAM

(A.H.T) Under the Diocese of Durgapur

Church of North India REPORT

Introduction

HUMAN TRAFFICKING is the trade of humans, most commonly for the purpose of forced

labour, sexual slavery or commercial sexual exploitation for the trafficker or others. This may

encompass providing a spouse in the context of forced marriage or the extraction of organs

or tissues including for surrogacy and ova removal. Human trafficking can occur within a

country or trans-nationally. Human trafficking is a crime against the person because of the

violation of the victim's rights to life through coercion and because of their

commercial exploitation. Human trafficking is the trade in people, especially women and

children, and does not necessarily involve the movement of the person from one place to

another.

India is the fourth in the list of worse affected countries in Asia only after Afghanistan,

Bangladesh and Bhutan and also the hub of this type of crime in Asia.

The 2016 data from the National Crime Records Bureau showed that almost equal numbers

of women and children were trafficked. Figures showed there were 9,104 trafficked children

last year -- a 27 percent increase from the previous year. The number of women trafficked

rose by 22 percent to 10,119 in 2016.India's West Bengal state - which shares a porous border

with poorer neighbours Bangladesh and Nepal and is a known human trafficking hub for that

reason - registered more than one-third of the total number of victims in 2016.The desert state

of Rajasthan recorded the second highest number of trafficked children in 2016, while the

western state of Maharashtra, where India's business capital Mumbai is located, showed the

second highest number of trafficked women .Human trafficking is condemned as a violation

of human rights by international conventions.

Why the Diocese of Durgapur Is Involved

The Diocese of Durgapur, C.N.I, started the anti-human trafficking (A.H.T) programme in

North and South Dinajpur district in 2011. This area is both a source and a transit point for

human trafficking along with several other illegal activities. Bordered by Bangladesh ,which

is another major hub for human trafficking, Kaliyaganj and Baldahura (where the Diocese’s

work is centred) is a monsoon-dependant agricultural community and a major production

centre of good-quality marijuana. This results in the poor villagers setting up businesses with

drug-peddlers which in turn provoke trafficking along with drug transport.

The Diocese of Durgapur, C.N.I, started the anti-human trafficking (A.H.T)

programme in North and South Dinajpur district in 2011. This area is both a source and a transit point for human trafficking along with several other

illegal activities. Bordered by Bangladesh ,which is another major hub for human trafficking, Kaliyaganj, Baldahura and forty villages surrounding India Bangladesh borders (where the Diocese’s work is centred) is a

monsoon-dependant agricultural community and a major production centre of good-quality marijuana. This results in the poor villagers setting up

businesses with drug-peddlers which in turn provoke trafficking along with drug transport.

The Diocese of Durgapur have not been deterred, they continue to fight this

evil and have succeeded to rescue some who are now in safe hands at the safe house. Work is also taking place to help adults who have been rescued. The staff give them support for generating skills such as hand woven carpets

which are sold through fair price b y t h e diocese. These are efforts which need to be supported by all people of good will. Human life deserves dignity

and our partners are working to defend and protect the dignity of all without segregation. No one d e s e r v e s t o b e trafficked.

The Programs Currently Undertaken by the A.H.T Team

Drawing Competition on Anti Human Trafficking

On the topic of Human Trafficking a drawing competition was held

on 28th of October, 2017 at Anantapur GP Purgram High School with

a strength of 150 children from standard 8th to 11th.

The children express their thinking against trafficking through

drawing. Even Diocese of Durgapur presented gift to the children and

a glass of health drink to each participants.

Children participating Drawing Competition on AHT

Massive Rally on AHT

Diocese of Durgapur organized a massive rally against Human

Trafficking on 10th December 2017 ( World Human Rights Day) at

Kaliyaganj with school children and local peoples. About 500

children took participate in this rally. The message against human

trafficking was spread to peoples through this rally. The local media

and their team were also present in this rally and forecast in

Television and newspapers.

This was first time held in these areas and it was appreciated by all

the local peoples.

Village Awareness Programs

A Total of 10 villages awareness programs was held by our field staffs under the guidance

of Diocese of Durgapur. The villagers were not only educated about human trafficking but to

spread the message to each peoples and their relatives. They were also trained how to track

traffickers. If they found any unidentified person in their villages, they must inform

immediately to local cops. If also someone going to work in another place of India they must

have the proper documents of the place of job.

Migration Survey

The field animators and supervisor of AHT Diocese of Durgapur survey four GP Korengi,

Radhikapur , Dhonkal and Anantapur GP in the month October and November 2017 and

found that among 25 villages 1511 peoples are migrated to different places of India for

job. The team apart from survey give awareness teaching that those are migrated their

families should keep proper documents where they are gone for job.

Picture of a village where migration survey was done

Dhokra Training Initiative : An Alternative Livelihood

The Diocese of Durgapur in its attempt to provide alternative livelihood has started a Dhokra

training initiatives in the villages in the Gram Panchayat’s of Karanji and Anantapur

respectively. Here the locals are taught to make Dhokra as a part of alternative livelihood

generation program. A total of 35 people in 2 centres are learning to weave this traditional

mat under the guidance of 4 teachers over the 2 centres.

Dhokra training being given to women

Child Study Centres

Two Child Study Centres have been opened in Betahar and Purgram in order to give the local

Children a quality education which has been missing from the local Social Infrastructure. In

Betahar the student count is 18 under the presence of teacher Jashada Hansda while in

Purgram the total student count numbered 20 under teacher Rahul Sarkar. Here a lot of other

activities are also taught like Cricket and Football apart from studies.

A.H.T Programmes in I.C.D.S Centres

In the past 6 months a total of 12 I.C.D.S programs had been organized by our team of

Animators in the different Gram Panchayat’s of North and South Dinajpur Districts of West

Bengal. I.C.D.S Centre names are given below where our team had done Awareness

Programs

The discussion was concerning the mother’s co-operation with the field team in order to stop

Trafficking. They were also asked to send their children to the I.C.D.S Centres in clean

clothes and kempt conditions. They were also asked to provide nutritious diets to their

childern. They were also informed of the benefits of correct timing and accurate measures of

Immunisations and the difference it can make if provided correctly to would be mothers.

School Awareness Programs

A Total of 3 School Awareness Programs Were Done In The Months Of June July and

August By The Field Team Operating In The North and South Dinajpur’s Gram Panchayats

Of Anantapur Karanji and Radhikapur. These Awareness Programs were done in Bhabatipur

High School with student count Of 450 Students Ranging from 9th-12th Standards, Puria

Maheshpur High School Falling under Kaliyaganj Blocks Bachadanga Panchayat With A

Student Count Of 400 Students. And 15 Teachers, And Chingarh Panchayat’s Hemtabad

Blocks Bharatpur High School with a total student head count of More Than 400 Students

and Teachers. There Our Vision Regarding To A.H.T Were Made Open To Them As Well

As The Evils Encompassing This Heinous act as well As The ways to stay aware of the

people Practicing This Act. The Students Were Also Advised To Warn Their Families And

Friends And Stay Aware Of Their Immediate Surroundings.

SELF HELP GROUP (S.H.G)

One S.H.G group was formed in Mahinagar and rechristened as Mahinagar Talpukur

Adivasi Mahila Swanirvar Dal. This group was formed in Mahinagar because the local tribal

people do not get any facilities from the government and suffer from alcoholic addiction.

This group was formed to educate the local women of their rights and duties as citizens of

India and also to help them become self sufficient.

St. Michaels Safe Home Baldahura

St. Michael’s Safe Home is situated in Baldahura, Malda. Presently it houses 20 young

tribal girls who were rescued. The girls are between the age of 6-9.

Presently these girls go to lacal schools, and then Diocese Of Durgapur facilitates them

by giving them food, shelter, School supplies and dresses. Apart from studies they are

also given dance classes and games.

Case Study 1 of Anti Human Trafficking

A woman name Sunita Nagbansi age 31 years,village Panishala gram Panchayat Koranji

GP. She is the eldest of three sisters and one brother. Her father died in her young age.

The family is below poverty line. She was tempted at the age of 10years for marriage by

Chandrashekahr Nagbanshi a resident of Uttar Pradesh and took her away. She was

tortured physically, mentally and sexually. She gave birth to five premature children who

died at birth and currently mother of five kids at age of 31. So, in August 2017 she

returned back to her native place and our animators of AHT found her. They reported that

she and her children were suffering from acute shortage of nutrition.

Our animator took them to local administrative power and admitted to hospital. Now she

is getting nutrition and clothes from the block office of the government. This family gave

special thanks for the help received to AHT program of Diocese of Durgapur as the

family was on the brink of destruction.

The family of Sunita Nagbanshi

Case Study 2

In the month of November 2017,15th a woman came to a tribal village in the border

areas of Bangaladesh and India with her two girl child. Her name is Merina Murmu

and the two daughters age is 4year and other younger is 4 months. They were from

Kashipur village of Bangladesh. She came with her husband Avisekh Soren from

Bangladesh for Job at Delhi and they entered illegally through border, the husband

after entering India left them and flew away with another tribal woman. They were

homeless and even they don’t have anything left at Bangladesh as sold off by her

husband. In the meantime they came to our church peoples in Balashpore. The field

animators and the field supervisor of AHT Diocese of Durgapur with help of church

members give the mother and two child temporary shelter near the church. As they

are migrated from Bangladesh without any documents, our team is trying to make

their identity and the local government has also came forward to help them.

Conclusion : The AHT program of Diocese of Durgapur has put a great positive

image to these areas by their constant support from the Diocesan office and field

workers. We are putting effective programs in the field so that peoples must aware

of Human Trafficking which is the second biggest crime in WORLD.

Thanking YOU ALL