Child trafficking growing in northeast India

Source-http://www.upi.com/Features/Culture_Society/2010/05/11/Child-trafficking-growing-in-northeast-India/12735918721035/

Published: May 11, 2010 at 12:01 PM

After decades of political tumult, India’s northeastern region is shattered, disadvantaged. The region is a hotbed of violence but recent years have brought a tenuous peace.

Through the prism of human rights, though, things are far from OK. Nearly 20 percent of the region’s children between the ages of 11 and 17 are involved in prostitution, a 2008 report by Global Organization for Life Development, an organization that helps trafficking victims, said.

That figure is believed to have grown at a rate of about 5 percent per year, leading experts to identify the region as a major center of human trafficking. And that's not likely to change anytime soon, they said. Poverty, often due to the region’s violence, is the catalyst that usually forces children into the flesh trade, according to the organization.

Most of the young girls who are forced into prostitution are from Assam state, followed by Meghalaya, Tripura, Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur and the border disputed state Arunachal Pradesh, the report said. Some are sold to brothels in Pune, Mumbai and other metropolises.

“While any violence, sexual or otherwise, exacted on children is condemnable, abject poverty is the root cause,” said Gopi Venkataraman of Give India, a non-profit focused on human rights.

Destitute parents are often made to sell their own children, she said.

“Educating parents and providing them means to earn a living can reduce this evil,” she said. “Vigilance by parents or community is important to prevent trafficking.”

Impulse Asia, another organization in northeast India, reports large-scale sexual exploitation of children in the region.

“Human trafficking is an abuse to human rights, with women and children being the predominant victims,” said Shoma Chatterji, an activist and author of "Gender and Conflict."

Traffickers have shown interest in girls from India's northeastern regions because of their distinctive features, experts say.The region shares major international borders, which facilitate trafficking to other Asian nations and beyond.

“Cross-border trafficking can be controlled with strict monitoring,” Chatterji said. “The corrupt officials of the Border Security Force serving as accomplices to the felony need to be punished and the government should form bodies specifically looking into this.”

The region has seen a steady rise in the AIDS count, too, AIDS awareness group AVERT, Catholic Relief Services and other organizations say.

Though prostitution isn't the only reason why AIDS has spread profusely in the region – use of drugs via injections has spurred much of it – human rights groups are working to raise awareness among sex workers. The majority of the prostitutes participate in unprotected sex, which increases the chance of HIV infection.

“Children are sold to parts of India (often brothels) as parents cannot feed them,” said Susenjit Guha, a nationally known columnist. “Government should be able to ensure education for all."

Plight of Children

Source: IMPHAL FREE PRESS
Posted: 2010-05-25

Any discussion on the plight of children at this juncture cannot but begin with a salutation and prayer for the children amongst those displaced by the violence at Mao Gate on May 6 and the atmosphere of insecurity still prevailing in and around the highway township. Although unfortunately media coverage of their plight has been very scarce in the state on account of the continued uncertain political condition, marked most prominently by the blockade on the two national highways, in this case the NH-39, there is no gainsaying what the suffering these innocent, young and impressionable minds must be put through at this moment. We urge upon the government of Manipur and all the parties involved in the faceoff to ease their stances, if not for anything else, then at least to restore the conditions that would pave the way for a return of normalcy at the Mao Gate area in particular and in the two states of Nagaland and Manipur at the soonest so the scars on the minds of the children are not further deepened.

This condition of course had been created by an unfortunate emergent situation, and hence is an exception to be tackled as an exception. There are however other more sustained and invisible threats to the welfare of children in general resulting not so much from any wilful policy intent, but from sheer negligence coming out of a presumption of familiarity. One of these came to light recently during a function at a destitute home in Imphal which was sending off three of its long time residents, one of them after he reached the age of 18 and the other two because they had appeared for the matriculation examination. As is the case in most such charitable homes all over the country, children residents are obliged to become dissociated from their umbrage upon completing school or else reaching the age of 18, whichever comes first.

In this extremely competitive age, to be left to fend for yourself, with no guarantee of security of a home to return to, at 18 and with no employable skill or degree, would be an intimidating prospect for anybody, but for a homeless orphan who grew up in public homes, this would be a nightmare. Indeed some years ago, before the cut-off age norm for ejection from these homes were introduced, there have even been cases of children deliberately failing their exams so as to delay their departures. In Manipur there are at least a dozen such homes both in Imphal and in the other districts, and every year on the average a dozen or two would be completing school and thus having by law to forsake the roof over their heads and the guarantee of at least two square meals a day. This, nobody will dispute is cruel. Nobody other than the most desperately poor would do this to their own children. If this is so, why should the society and more pertinently the government allow this to continue without even bothering to give them a thought.

There are two approaches that we can suggest to overcome this issue. One, the government as well as charitable organisations must invest in building buffer institutes where children who pass out from children homes can enlist and prepare further for at least another two years to prepare to meet the world on their own. Given the circumstance in Manipur today, these could be vocational training institutes where the children are taught job oriented skills. For the bright students, the government could introduce some fellowships for them to continue further studies and acquire the knowledge and skills for higher level professions. The other approach is not to wait for school to be over and to instead introduce vocation training say after Class 8, so that by the time they pass out from these homes, they would have been imparted employable skills of their choices for at least two years. This could also be by way of apprenticeships that the government can arrange with private enterprises offering blue collar jobs such as motor car workshops, tailoring shops, printing presses, electronic repair shops etc, according to the aptitudes and inclinations of the children. For obvious reason this latter option would also be the second, to be applied only if the first option of setting up buffer institutions is not feasible for whatever the reason.

CCRP raises concern for fate of children

The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, May 24: The Coalition on Children`s Right to Protection Manipur in a press meet held today at Press Club, Major Khul has today put up various demands to concern authorities regarding the welfare of the children in the state.

K Pradip State Coordinator, CCRP, while briefing the media persons in the press meet has stated that children of both hills and plain areas of the state are at the receiving ends of the present political impasse, which has largely traumatized and put undue pressure upon them, though the children are quite ignorant of the opposing political campaigns of the present situation in the state.

He also stated that pregnant women and ailing children are suffering most due to want of food, medicine and care and need immediate attention.

He further mentioned that the lack of fuel in the state due to the present imbroglio in the state has led to complete closure of the educational scenario in the state. Several thousands of students in the valley districts had already lost four months due to the recent indefinite class boycott call and now added with the present situation have become the worst affected group. He has also stated that the compelling situation of the state has led to various schools announcing their summer vacations immaturely.

He further stated that the CCRP demands withdrawal of the indefinite blockade that has been imposed upon the national highways by ANSAM since April 7. The demands also include withdrawal of the ban on Manipur bound vehicles in Nagaland by NSF and the recent retaliatory moves of counter blockades by Manipuri women folks, which he states are against humanity and stark violations of basic human rights, including right to life. He has further appealed to all concern not to use blockades as a means to achieve political ends of a group or a community by keeping human lives under hostage.

While drawing the attention of the union government and the state government to do the needful to ensure free and secure national highways, the CCRP has also demanded of the state government to arrange and provide fuel required by vehicles transporting school students, considering education as an essential service sector.

It has also demanded arrangement of special ration cards for PDS items for children homes and other institutions providing care and shelter to destitute and marginalized children.

While stating that counter blockade has not affected those responsible for the blockade but are rather provoking the innocent people, the CCRP has demanded equal distribution of whatever essential commodities available in the state, irrespective of hills and valley.

The press meet which was also attended by S Sarju Devi, convenor CCRP, AK Sanaton, senior core group of CCRP, H Rashi Devi, member of core group, CCRP, has also appealed to all to apply to the strategy of living in harmony with sharing and caring for each other among the hills and plain in the wake of the present turmoil in the state.

It has also demanded safe passage of essential items from outside the state and from Imphal to the hill districts and exemption of medicines, educational materials, services related to children by all concern parties from any kind of impositions, blockades, restrictions and bandhs.

Govt must clamp down on strike

Imphal Free Press

Source: Leader Writer: Leivon Jimmy


Who says Manipur is a land of anarchy, the Government doesn’t hesitate to react if any one goes against it. There have been many apparent cases. For instances like the recent arrest of three employees of the PHE department by the police for not complying to the directive and warning of the Government not join in the strike of the JAC of AMGEO and AMTUC under the Manipur Essential commodities act. With the arrest of PHE employees the Government has shown the might of law and its presence in the state.

The message is loud and clear that no one messes with the essential Rights of the people and indicates the long hands of law. But unfortunately, who will take responsible for deprivation of the public in getting their essential needs for so many years. How many of us living in the state has witness a running tap water, are we getting regular electricity supply, do the rightful section of the society getting PDS items regularly. This is a prolonged deprivation that has been witnessed by the general public.

Who would take action for this deprivation of Rights? Will it be within the reach of law? Will the people get justice for the chronic issue, which still lingers today?

There are so many questioned that we doubt we can get any answers. What we will get is only explanation or clarification, for the problem. No doubt insurgency problem would appear as the number one issue in the clarification list followed by many other technical complications and blame game of the past Governments. These clarifications become very frequent that sometimes it appears to be more like excuse for failing to improve the failing system each time. What we need to hear is an encouraging development.

Without basic essential needs it is obvious that the essence of life is missing but still people hesitate to do something instead trying to adapt the situation. The attitude of the people is allowing for many Government find its niche. To adapt with the very course of life people encourage black markets network and also other private activities, compromising its Rights. One glaring example is the Kerosene oil, even though Government stands it in cheap rate the failure in Public Distribution Systems people is left with no choice but to buy it in higher rates which sometimes jump to a rate equal to diesels. This allows the black marketer to play its game forming a large network of profit making indulging big shots resulting the systems to stay permanently. Same for other items like BPL, APL Rice etc. moreover many of the basic essentials items are being purchased by the public that ought to be supply by the Government for it has totally failed to delivered by and large.

If concerned authority can nail the striking employees, who claimed to be protesting for its Rights, under the so-called “Essential Commodities Act”. It must be aware of the prolonged deprivation of Essentials Rights and consequences arising out of it.

Excuses and blame game is a waste of time however the desperate need of the hour is swift action irrespective of who is who.

The general Public too needs to be awake for what they have been put into before it is too late as the future generation may have grudge for situation that they have created.

Blockade deprives Right to education’

Blockade deprives Right to education’
http://thesangaiexpress.com/News_pages/Local%20news-13.html

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, May 24: Contending that right to education of the students have deprived because of the total economic blockade along the National Highways, Coalition on Children’s Right to Protection (CCRP) has called upon for intervention of the Government of India to end the blockade and ensure proper education of the students.
Addressing a press conference at Manipur Press Club here today, State co-ordinator of CCRP K Pradipkumar observed that education has become to a complete halt in Manipur after the transport services of the schools stopped due to lack of fuel on account of the ongoing economic blockade.
This has given a serious impact on the education of the students, Pradipkumar said.
Convenor of CCRP S Sharaju Devi noted that there would be a definite gap in the education of the students in Manipur if the crippling effect of blockade continues.
Pointing out that proper education is a right of the students guaranteed by the Constitution of India, she called upon the Government of India for intervention so as to protect the rights of the students.
Stating that National Highways are under the control of the Central Government, she also question why the Centre has been remaining quiet over the issue.
Chairman of CCRP H Rashi Devi observed that the Constitutional provisions of free and compulsory education is of no use if there is no food and nutrition for the students. So, the Government should see that food is made available to the students.
Pradipkumar added that children in Children Homes are the ones who have been affected the most from the shortage of food on account of blockade.
He suggested that special ration cards should be issued for providing PSD items to these children.
Coalition on Children’s Right to Protection has also called for lifting the economic blockade as well the counter-economic blockade.

Tengnoupal PHC, SDO/BDO functioning not up to the mark

source- Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, May 20: The Primary Health Centre (PHC) at Tengnoupal Sub-division Headquarter has at present no doctors or other staff, nor any equipment. Moreover, the building has not been repaired although it is around 20 years old. The wooden walls, windows and doors, the RCC floor and the wooden pillars are all in various degrees of dilapidation making the health centre completely uninhabitable and unsafe for any kind of work to be done from there.

As the building is not under use the health centre is now being used as a godown for storing charcoal by the locals. The charcoal is meant for sale in the various markets in the state, including Imphal. The building was constructed in 1967 and is just next to the National Highway-39. One can make out at the first sight that the building is not fit for use.

The PHC is the only one in the Tengnoupal sub-division and as it is non-functional for the past many years, people have to go to the 29 AR post in Tengnoupal for treatment. While the 29 AR post can treat only minor cases those with major problems have to go to the hospitals in Imphal. As a result the people of Tengnoupal have to undergo a lot of hardships whenever there are any cases of illness or disease.

Since the health centre was established no doctors have been present in there to treat the patients. In this regard the villagers submitted memorandums to the concerned authorities at various times but they never got a positive response till now. However, the villagers hope that one day the building will surely be reconstructed by the concerned authorities. Villagers also expect that one day all the necessities will be provided to them.
Further, President of Kuki Student Organization(KSO) Tengnoupal Block, Thangboi Lungdin stated that the said PHC was only for name sake and the PHC of Tengnoupal Sub-Division is under the supervision of SDO/BDO Darsinso Aimol but he does not look after it. In this matter the said PHC was not providing any facilities, he charged.

Meanwhile, Thangboi Lungdin stated to IFP that a building of the SDO/BDO was inaugurated in 2007 by Chief Minister Okram Ibobi, and the government handed it over to the people of Tengnoupal Sub-Division. But the SDO/BDO never came to this office and they never did anything to make it function also.

Seven to eight years before the inauguration of the building the villagers rented a building for temporary office but the SDO/BDO and other subordinate staff never visited them and the concerned officers never enquired into the problems of the villagers. The villagers also charged that the SDO/BDO Darsinso Aimol never looked into the problems of the area because of which the area had become one of the most backward areas.

Thangboi Lungdin appealed to the higher authorities to take action against the SDO/BDO and his subordinate staff as they are not interested in their work and are interested in only making their position comfortable while neglecting the villagers.

SUPREME COURT RULES FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF LAWS ON CHILD PROTECTION

The Supreme Court Friday asked all states and union territories to “forthwith” set up three types of statutory bodies in all districts, as mandated by a 2000 central law for the welfare of juveniles and children in the country. Two days after ordering Delhi government to establish night shelters for thousand of the capital’s homeless, a bench of Justice Dalveer Bhandari and Justice A.K. Patnaik directed all states to set up statutory bodies under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2000, within six weeks.

“It has become imperative to direct all the states to implement the provisions of the law forthwith and establish Juvenile Justice Board, Child Welfare Committee and special juvenile policing units within 6 weeks from today,” the bench ordered.On a suggestion by Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium, the bench also deputed the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights as the nodal agency to supervise the implementation of the apex court order.The three statutory bodies that the bench ordered state governments to set up in all districts as per the provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act are: Juvenile Justice Board – a court to try juvenile delinquents, Child Welfare Committees (CWC), and the special police units to handle the cases related to juveniles.The bench gave the order while hearing a 2006 lawsuit by a civil society organisation, Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA), which sought implementation of the various provisions of theJuvenile Justice Act, 2000.The bench gave the order as senior counsel Colin Gonsalves, appearing for the BBA, told the court that various key provisions of the law remain unimplemented till date despite lapse of nearly a decade after the central legislation was enacted.During the hearing, the bench singled out poverty as the reason why the children keep returning to workplaces, including the hazardous ones, despite ban on child labour.Citing the example of Brazil, Chile and various Latin American countries, the bench observed that child labour was not unique to India and wanted the government to learn from Brazilian experience, where the government would give some financial incentives to the poor parents of the children withdrawn from workplaces and sent to schools.

Let Education be a Free Zone

Source- Imphal Free Press

Leader Writer: Sukham Nanda
It seems the education sector in the state has become a secondary target due to the impact of many eventualities that have occurred in the state in the past many years. The state of Manipur being in a conflict situation the present society in the state has become complex. Besdies disturbing the entire structure and normalcy in the state the unwanted eventualities, involving either state actors or non-state actors in the state have caused a prolonged dilemma for the education sector in the state. In the meantime, stressing the importance and value of education in the modern day both the Centre and the state governments have already placed priority on Human Resource Development by implementing various schemes and programs for compulsory education upto Class-XII. Moreover many civil society and student organizations of the state have been making an effort to repulse any form of disturbance to the academic atmosphere of the state so as to enable the educational institutions to impart quality education. The level of awareness has risen in the state due to the circumstances caused by the disturbed academic atmosphere and nobody is now willing to defend the rising disturbances to the academic atmosphere which have created many problems in the state for one and all, especially the students. It may be recalled that the entire academic atmosphere in the state had been paralysed for more than five months due to the mass agitation spearheaded by the Working Committee of Apunba Lup. The Lup was demanding justice in the case of the broad daylight killing of Sanjit and Rabina Devi and injuring of five others at BT Road on July 23 last year by the state police commandos, which led to the total disruption of the Academic Calendar of the state. The issue was brought to an end later and normal classes in every educational institution have resumed since the beginning of the last month.

But this may have been said too soon. The entire educational atmosphere has gradually started declining again with the school vans and other transportation services going off the roads due to the shortage of petrol and diesel following the protracted economic blockade along the existing National Highways in the state. On the other hand, it is very unfortunate to learn that the prolonged economic blockade has adversely affected the movement of around 7000 teachers working in various private schools and the attendance of students have declined as the vans and other transporter services have been stopped. How pitiful that the state government is uncaring towards the fate of the students like this. How long will such disturbances and difficulties plague the students community? Such questions will continue to arise in the minds of students of the state, may be for a long time to come. While remembering the lifestyle and education system that had been prevalent during the 80’s we can recall that there was no such difficulty faced in going to school by the students and teachers even from far flung homes in those days. Students as well as teachers labored on their own to travel long distances by foot or by using bicycles and few students and teachers from well to do families were seen using motorcars. But at present many of the students and teachers from different schools and educational institutions rely on vans and other means of quick transport services, no doubt a system which has been brought around with the change in times. The major concern now for everyone in the state is the lack of sincerity by this government to tackle urgent problems and bringing about right solutions for many eventualities that may affect normlacy in the state. It is the responsibility of the state government to look at the welfare of the people and also to cater to the requirements of the people by choosing alternative measures. If the state government really feels it is a popular government apart from solving various issues and problems of the state it would be better to keep their word and let education be a free zone, as frequently mentioned by the state government.

Child trafficking growing in northeast India

source-By Abhirup Bhunia, Written for UPI

After decades of political tumult, India’s northeastern region is shattered, disadvantaged. The region is a hotbed of violence but recent years have brought a tenuous peace.

Through the prism of human rights, though, things are far from OK. Nearly 20 percent of the region’s children between the ages of 11 and 17 are involved in prostitution, a 2008 report by Global Organization for Life Development, an organization that helps trafficking victims, said.

That figure is believed to have grown at a rate of about 5 percent per year, leading experts to identify the region as a major center of human trafficking. And that's not likely to change anytime soon, they said. Poverty, often due to the region’s violence, is the catalyst that usually forces children into the flesh trade, according to the organization.

Most of the young girls who are forced into prostitution are from Assam state, followed by Meghalaya, Tripura, Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur and the border disputed state Arunachal Pradesh, the report said. Some are sold to brothels in Pune, Mumbai and other metropolises.

“While any violence, sexual or otherwise, exacted on children is condemnable, abject poverty is the root cause,” said Gopi Venkataraman of Give India, a non-profit focused on human rights.

Destitute parents are often made to sell their own children, she said.

“Educating parents and providing them means to earn a living can reduce this evil,” she said. “Vigilance by parents or community is important to prevent trafficking.”

Impulse Asia, another organization in northeast India, reports large-scale sexual exploitation of children in the region.

“Human trafficking is an abuse to human rights, with women and children being the predominant victims,” said Shoma Chatterji, an activist and author of "Gender and Conflict."

Traffickers have shown interest in girls from India's northeastern regions because of their distinctive features, experts say.The region shares major international borders, which facilitate trafficking to other Asian nations and beyond.

“Cross-border trafficking can be controlled with strict monitoring,” Chatterji said. “The corrupt officials of the Border Security Force serving as accomplices to the felony need to be punished and the government should form bodies specifically looking into this.”

The region has seen a steady rise in the AIDS count, too, AIDS awareness group AVERT, Catholic Relief Services and other organizations say.

Though prostitution isn't the only reason why AIDS has spread profusely in the region – use of drugs via injections has spurred much of it – human rights groups are working to raise awareness among sex workers. The majority of the prostitutes participate in unprotected sex, which increases the chance of HIV infection.

“Children are sold to parts of India (often brothels) as parents cannot feed them,” said Susenjit Guha, a nationally known columnist. “Government should be able to ensure education for all."

76 boys from Assam, Manipur rescued from TN children's home

Source- Times of India

NEW DELHI: Seventy-six boys from Assam and Manipur have been rescued from a children's home in Tamil Nadu after they were found living in squalid conditions, the Lok Sabha was informed.

Twenty-two of the children were from Manipur, which included 11 girls. They are all in the age group of 6-14.

Following this, the Supreme Court directed the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) to carry out an inquiry into the matter.

The children in Tamil Nadu have been rescued and restored to their parents and guardians in Assam and Manipur and action has also been taken by the Tamil Nadu Police against the accused persons, Minister of State for Women and Child Development Krishna Tirath said in a written reply.

A large number of children's homes are not registered with Government although Section 34 (3) of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of children) Act, 2000 makes registration mandatory.

The Tamil Nadu government has initiated a compulsory registration drive under this section, Tirath said.

Schools close, Central forces called out in Imphal for security coverage

source- Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, May 6: In the aftermath of the violence and tension at Mao-Gate, many schools cancelled their classes around noon and sent home their students.

Khwairamband bazaar, Khurai Lalong bazaar, Kwakeithel bazaar, Pishum bazaar, Singjamei bazaar etc, to closed down with shopkeepers pulling down shutters in apprehension of violence spreading.

Besides the state’s available police forces, CRPF, BSF and MR personnel have also been pressed into service to tighten security coverage at Imphal West and Imphal East and other vulnerable areas from this afternoon to prevent any forms of public demonstrations or agitation in connection with the tense situations in the state.

According to an official source, there is no questions on the shortage of security forces in the valley districts even though there have been large scale deployment of state security forces at Mao gate.

The official source further said to face any eventuality in greater Imphal areas, large scale deployment of central paramilitary forces including BSF and CRPF have started.

This is also in view of the 48 hour general strike of AMUCO which started from 6 pm this evening.

In the meantime, blockade of vehicles plying hill districts by UCM paralysed normal traffic.

Womenfolk in various part of Imphal area has staged a silent sit in protest objecting the proposed visit of Muivah.
The protest were held at Khurai lamlong Bazaar, Khwairamband Bazaar Ima Kheithel, Keishampat Junction.