TEZPUR, March 31 � A day-long seminar on the subject �Multi-stakeholder consultation on prevention of child trafficking� was organised recently by UNICEF in cooperation with the Assam Mahila Samata Society (AMSS) here at the district library.
Addressing the seminar, Juhu Master, officer UNICEF said that to check the problem of child trafficking, a road map is necessary. �To protect such activities at the grass root level, people from every walk would have to come forward with a positive mindset�. Expressing annoyance over the loose contact of agencies concerned including police administration, the prominent UNICEF activist further stated that due to the lackadaisical attitude of the department concerned, hundreds of children were trafficked to various metropolitan cities by certain middlemen or brokers which is a violation of human rights. �For checking this burning issue, family condition is to be strengthened and the violation of their right is to be protected,� she continued.
On the other hand, Miea Baruah, chairperson, Asom Mahila Samata Society speaking on the occasion said that several hundreds of children of Sonitpur district have been trafficked till date. It has been going on severely in many Asian countries including Bhutan, Myanmar, China and to many red-alert areas across the country. Moreover, most of the children from Assam have been trafficked to many metropolitan cities of the country by way of kidnapping, family problems etc. In her speech disclosing certain data she added that in many red- alert areas, a number of child prostitutes have been forcefully engaged and the most tragic picture is that behind the shameful episode, direct involvement of police are often found harming allegedly violating the human rights.
The seminar was also addressed by Suchitra Kakoti, AMSS activists, Deepa Tamang, Rupa Porja, and SP Sonitpur, AP Tewary. The day-long programme was formally inaugurated by noted social worker Minakshi Bhuyan. In the inaugural session DC, Sonitpur, Tapan Chandra Sharma emphasised the importance of the programme and thereby urged all concerned to play a positive role in checking the burning issue from the society reflecting a better atmosphere.
In the programme, video clipping on how pathetically such crime could be committed by the criminals was also exhibited.
Story telling week: The story telling week (Saadhu Saptah) organised by children magazine �Mousak� in cooperation with �Tezpur Kabi Kanon� and different educational institutions from March 20 last concluded at Tezpur Jyoti Bharati on March 29. The weeklong programme specially held in memory of Rasaraj Lakshminath Bezbaruah was participated by almost 400 children from across the state.
The opening ceremony of the programme that marked the world story telling day was inaugurated by Barahalia Monia Parijat and was attended by Rabin Deka, Jyoti Bharati, prominent writer Asarya Kakoti, Dr Jatin Bhattacharya, Kamala Baruah, Anjali Sarma, Anurupa Bora among others dignitaries present in the programme emphasised on the importance and revival of story telling among the children.
In the weeklong programme the participating children submitted written story also. Out of the 400 children 250 children told stories while 150 children submitted written stories.
On the concluding day, the prize winners of the programme Nianta Bora, Monisha Bidyut Saikia, Kashyap and Pliza Deka were awarded respectively with first, second, third and fourth prize.
Attending the closing function the weeklong programme Geeta Upaidhiay, Gunakanta Barua, Dilip Kumar Baruah gave away the prizes to the children.
Militant chief arrested: The chairman of the Liberal Democratic Council for Missing Land (LDCM), Rupam Patir @ Ruhan Patir @ Abhijit Doley was arrested on March 29 at around 3.30 pm from near Darrang College here. After apprehending the chief of the newly formed militant organisation, SP Sonitpur, AP Tewary, addressing the media here informed that the militant was supposed to go back to Dhemaji, when police managed to arrest him. Hirakjyoti Doley, a degree student of the college was also arrested by police for sheltering the chairman of the outfit.
