SILCHAR, Jan 23 - A meeting organised by Aswash NGO in collaboration with Women�s College Silchar to sensitise women on human trafficking was held at the auditorium of the college on Saturday.
Addressing the students Prerna Sharma, Assistant Commissioner, Cachar said that women especially in the age group of 8-14 and 18-21 are most vulnerable to fall prey to human traffickers. �It has been found that on most occasions, girls from eastern India are trafficked to places like Rajasthan, Haryana and even to Dubai and Kuwait for bonded labour, slavery and even sex workers. Unscrupulous elements take advantage of poor socio-economic conditions and indulge in organised trafficking of girls and women,� Sharma said.
She advised the students not to encourage job calls which promise a lucrative salary and luxurious life without verifying the authenticity of the employers. �Such job calls must be verified even by the police,� Sharma maintained.
Samar Kanti Roy Choudhury, academician and president of the college governing body said that human trafficking is a 'modern day slavery' and must be put to an end generating more awareness among the people, especially girls with training on self defence. He announced that karate training classes will be opened in the college to empower the students to face the challenges.
Dr Manoj Kumar Paul, principal of the college said that human trafficking is the third most crime in the world after drugs and terrorism and not only women but children and elderly people have also been victims of the trade. He added to say that the meeting is significant since the students who have been enlightened with measures to combat the menace of human trafficking can share this experience with others and spread awareness about the growing problem. He thanked the NGO members for coming up with the awareness initiative. Nilotpal Choudhury, executive director of Jugasankha publications said that economic and intellectual empowerment of girls is extremely necessary. Arijit Naha, karate trainer and his team presented a karate demonstration on the occasion. Pranesh Nath, president of the NGO and Arundhuti Gupta, general secretary of the NGO also attended the meeting. Floral tributes were paid at the portrait image of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary and the assembly observed one minute silence in the memory of veteran author-journalist Paritosh Paul Choudhury who expired on January 22 midnight.
