Need for joint efforts to curb child trafficking stressed during event at Rohtak railway station

A programme to spread awareness on trafficking of human beings, especially children, was organised to mark the World Day against Trafficking in Persons at the Rohtak railway station on Wednesday.

All key stakeholders involved in protection of child rights participated in the event, which was attended by Asha Ahuja, the Chairperson of the Child Welfare Committee; Karminder Kaur, Protection-cum-Child Marriage Prohibition Officer; Moni and Poonam Ranga, Child Protection Officers from the District Child Protection Unit; Railway Protection Force (RPF)

SHO RS Meena, Government Railway Police (GRP) SHO Joginder Singh and representatives of the Mission to the Desperate and Destitute (MDD) of India.

All participants emphasised an urgent need for joint efforts by all departments and agencies to tackle child trafficking effectively and to instill the fear of the law in trafficking networks.

Addressing the passengers, Karaminder Kaur pointed out that children were being trafficked on a large scale via trains. “Especially young girls are being bought under the guise of child marriage,” she said, stressing the need for collective efforts to put an end to child trafficking.

Moni and Poonam Ranga stated that child trafficking could be curbed only with the alertness of the people and vigilance of government agencies.

“Public awareness is key to saving these children,” they said. Highlighting the importance of coordination among all stakeholders and the support of district administration for child protection, Surinder Singh Maan, Executive Officer of MDD of India, said prompt and strict legal action was must to check child trafficking.

“The most effective way to prevent child trafficking is to punish the traffickers swiftly and severely,” he stated.

Maan asserted that in the past year, MDD of India had rescued 2,416 children who were victims of child labour, trafficking and child marriages.