Minors in flesh trade cause concern
30 Sep 2007, ,
PUNE: A disturbing trend seems to be emerging in the city, with the number of minor girls being found trapped and forced into prostitution rising in Budhwar Peth, Pune’s red light area,. This year, 52 minor girls were rescued by the Faraskhana police as against 22 adult women. Of the 172 women rescued last year, under provisions of the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act (PITA), 109 were minors, while 69 others were adult women. Senior police inspector at the Faraskhana police station, V.T. Pawar, said the increase in the number of minors rescued emphasised that more and more young girls were being forced into prostitution. Various myths were also being seen as being responsible for this trend. Tejaswi Sevekari, project director of Saheli, an NGO which has been working for over ten years in the Budhwar Peth area, agreed with this finding. "We have been witnessing this for the past four to five years. A lot of minor girls are being brought here from Bangladesh and Nepal." The average age of minors trafficked in Budhwar Peth starts from 15, they are sold at around Rs 50,000 each for being "in demand", said Sevekari. According to her, several minor girls are first kept at the brothel owner’s house, which is generally on the outskirts of the city and later brought into the mainstream of the trade. During festive seasons, the situation in Budhwar Peth is one of intense activity, Sevekari said. "A large number of minor girls and women are trafficked in the city during these times. There is also a lot of seasonal internal migration of prostitutes here, as the number of people visiting the city goes up." This year, the NGO had conducted a survey to understand the increased migration during the festivities, in a single lane of Budhwar Peth. According to the survey, Margi gulli had around 215 new faces within the eight days of a recently concluded festival. Recently, some local corporators from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) joined brothel owners and protested in front of the Shukrawar Peth police chowky. This was after an NGO requested the police to rescue a minor from Karnataka who had been allegedly sold by her mother. Explaining the protest, corporator Pooja Yadav (Shiv Sena) said they were not opposing the move to rescue minors but were against the "forcible rescue of those who want to continue in the flesh trade." She said such women were not accepted once they were forcibly sent back to their villages.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Dubai:Court cuts human trafficking sentences of Indian traffickers
09/26/2007
By Bassam Za'za', Staff Reporter
Dubai: Two Indians who sexually exploited a housemaid have had their prison terms cut from 15 years to seven. The two were jailed under the new federal law to combat human trafficking.
The Dubai Court of Appeal overturned the initial ruling after the Indian couple, a 29-year-old woman, T.S., and her 25-year-old male driver, M.K., sought leniency earlier this month.
Meanwhile, a Pakistani driver, Z.Q., will spend three years in jail for aiding and abetting the couple although he was earlier acquitted due to lack of evidence. The three will be deported after serving their jail terms.
The verdict, handed down by the Dubai Court of First Instance last July, was considered the first implementation of Federal Law No 51 on Human Trafficking 2006.
Physical abuse
The Indians were charged with trying to sell the Indonesian victim's services to a police officer who was posing as a client. T.S. was also charged with physically abusing the Indonesian.
The victim said in her statement that her compatriot encouraged her to abandon her sponsor. She stayed with her friend before being taken away by a Bangladeshi. She said she was then "sold" to some Indians in Al Ain, who in turn sold her to M.K. and T.S. for Dh4,300.
"The two pocketed the money from my customers. The woman used to beat and abuse me," she said.
In another human trafficking case a court cleared an Indian couple of trafficking two teenage boys.
The Dubai Court of Cassation confirmed the acquittal of 54-year-old businessman, A.K., and his 52-year-old wife, M.S., who had been accused of trafficking two Indian boys whom they were escorting to Paris.
They were cleared of charges of attempting to traffic J.J., 13, and J.Q., 12, after their lawyer submitted written consent from the boys' parents allowing them to escort the boys to France.
"The defendants were escorting the boys from India to Paris via Dubai to their uncle," said their lawyer Dr Riyadh Al Kabban of Al Kabban Advocates and Legal Consultants.
However, the court upheld a six-month prison term for the couple for using fake passports for the boys. They will be deported after serving their terms.
Dubai: Two Indians who sexually exploited a housemaid have had their prison terms cut from 15 years to seven. The two were jailed under the new federal law to combat human trafficking.
The Dubai Court of Appeal overturned the initial ruling after the Indian couple, a 29-year-old woman, T.S., and her 25-year-old male driver, M.K., sought leniency earlier this month.
Meanwhile, a Pakistani driver, Z.Q., will spend three years in jail for aiding and abetting the couple although he was earlier acquitted due to lack of evidence. The three will be deported after serving their jail terms.
The verdict, handed down by the Dubai Court of First Instance last July, was considered the first implementation of Federal Law No 51 on Human Trafficking 2006.
Physical abuse
The Indians were charged with trying to sell the Indonesian victim's services to a police officer who was posing as a client. T.S. was also charged with physically abusing the Indonesian.
The victim said in her statement that her compatriot encouraged her to abandon her sponsor. She stayed with her friend before being taken away by a Bangladeshi. She said she was then "sold" to some Indians in Al Ain, who in turn sold her to M.K. and T.S. for Dh4,300.
"The two pocketed the money from my customers. The woman used to beat and abuse me," she said.
In another human trafficking case a court cleared an Indian couple of trafficking two teenage boys.
The Dubai Court of Cassation confirmed the acquittal of 54-year-old businessman, A.K., and his 52-year-old wife, M.S., who had been accused of trafficking two Indian boys whom they were escorting to Paris.
They were cleared of charges of attempting to traffic J.J., 13, and J.Q., 12, after their lawyer submitted written consent from the boys' parents allowing them to escort the boys to France.
"The defendants were escorting the boys from India to Paris via Dubai to their uncle," said their lawyer Dr Riyadh Al Kabban of Al Kabban Advocates and Legal Consultants.
However, the court upheld a six-month prison term for the couple for using fake passports for the boys. They will be deported after serving their terms.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Hyderabad activist enables sex workers start life afresh
K Rajani Kanth / New Delhi
September 25, 2007
Sunitha Krishnan's organisation empowers them through training in carpentry, welding and housekeeping.
For 12-year-old Laila, it was a never ending saga of pain and fear. Enslaved in a cellar for three years, she was subjected to physical abuse and mental torture by a number of men.
She can barely recall her childhood, the time when she was fondly called Laxmi in her hometown in Andhra Pradesh. Laila was rescued by Prajwala, an anti-trafficking organisation, from a red light area in Mumbai.
Prajwala is a movement started by Sunitha Krishnan, a health care professional in Hyderabad. Sunitha is full of stories of many such girls who were rescued and brought back into society.
“Even as a young girl of 16, I wanted to work for the cause of children and women. I was arrested for protesting against the 1995 Miss World contest held in Bangalore, and had to serve a two-month sentence. After being released, I decided to move out of Bangalore and settle down in Hyderabad,” 35-year-old Sunitha, co-founder and chief functionary, Prajwala, says.
In 1996, sex workers living in Mehboob ki Mehandi, a red light area in Hyderabad, were evacuated. As a result, thousands of women, who were caught in the clutches of prostitution, were left homeless.
Having found a like-minded person in Brother Jose Vetticatil, a missionary, Sunitha Krishnan started a transition school at the vacated brothel to prevent the second generation from being trafficked.
“We began in a small way by responding to the plight of the mothers. Things were not easy during the initial days. Although the women were concerned about their children, they were not ready for any kind of partnership. I made a calculated move to have a win-win situation. ‘You give me information about the destitute women trapped in prostitution, and I will provide education to your child’ was how I convinced the them, and it worked well,” she says.
Today, Prajwala runs over 17 transition centres in different areas of Andhra Pradesh for the sex workers’ children. Over 5,000 children have benefited from the second generation prevention programme.
The organisation, so far, has rescued more than 2,500 victims with the help of the information provided by its partners and through police intervention. The organisation has 80 members in India and 25 members abroad.
“In order to empower the rescued, we started to train them in carpentry, welding, printing and stationery material, and also in the manufacture of wooden and steel furniture, besides training them as housekeepers to work in hotels and hospitals,” Sunitha says.
“So far, we have provided rehabilitation to nearly 1,500 girls, but couldn't succeed in doing so in 1,000 other cases. I don't think I failed but probably I didn't get the desired results. For instance, we rescued a 20-year girl from a Pune red light area and offered a Rs 6,000-per month salary package to her to work for us. She rejected the offer and went back. After 10 days, she called me and said she realised her mistake and was willing to work for the cause. Today, she is one of our main informers. Now, can this be called a failure,” she says.
Sunitha Krishnan is supported by Rajesh Touch River, a film maker known for his internationally-acclaimed movie In the Name of Buddha. He has made more than a dozen short films for Prajwala. One of these films Anamika (nameless) is now a part of the curricula of the Andhra Pradesh Police Academy and the National Police Academy.
“Unlike many other organisations, Prajwala is not a project. It is a need-based organisation. I will close down Prajwala the day society stops treating women and children as objects of exploitation,” proclaims Sunitha Krishnan.
prajwalaindia.org
September 25, 2007
Sunitha Krishnan's organisation empowers them through training in carpentry, welding and housekeeping.
For 12-year-old Laila, it was a never ending saga of pain and fear. Enslaved in a cellar for three years, she was subjected to physical abuse and mental torture by a number of men.
She can barely recall her childhood, the time when she was fondly called Laxmi in her hometown in Andhra Pradesh. Laila was rescued by Prajwala, an anti-trafficking organisation, from a red light area in Mumbai.
Prajwala is a movement started by Sunitha Krishnan, a health care professional in Hyderabad. Sunitha is full of stories of many such girls who were rescued and brought back into society.
“Even as a young girl of 16, I wanted to work for the cause of children and women. I was arrested for protesting against the 1995 Miss World contest held in Bangalore, and had to serve a two-month sentence. After being released, I decided to move out of Bangalore and settle down in Hyderabad,” 35-year-old Sunitha, co-founder and chief functionary, Prajwala, says.
In 1996, sex workers living in Mehboob ki Mehandi, a red light area in Hyderabad, were evacuated. As a result, thousands of women, who were caught in the clutches of prostitution, were left homeless.
Having found a like-minded person in Brother Jose Vetticatil, a missionary, Sunitha Krishnan started a transition school at the vacated brothel to prevent the second generation from being trafficked.
“We began in a small way by responding to the plight of the mothers. Things were not easy during the initial days. Although the women were concerned about their children, they were not ready for any kind of partnership. I made a calculated move to have a win-win situation. ‘You give me information about the destitute women trapped in prostitution, and I will provide education to your child’ was how I convinced the them, and it worked well,” she says.
Today, Prajwala runs over 17 transition centres in different areas of Andhra Pradesh for the sex workers’ children. Over 5,000 children have benefited from the second generation prevention programme.
The organisation, so far, has rescued more than 2,500 victims with the help of the information provided by its partners and through police intervention. The organisation has 80 members in India and 25 members abroad.
“In order to empower the rescued, we started to train them in carpentry, welding, printing and stationery material, and also in the manufacture of wooden and steel furniture, besides training them as housekeepers to work in hotels and hospitals,” Sunitha says.
“So far, we have provided rehabilitation to nearly 1,500 girls, but couldn't succeed in doing so in 1,000 other cases. I don't think I failed but probably I didn't get the desired results. For instance, we rescued a 20-year girl from a Pune red light area and offered a Rs 6,000-per month salary package to her to work for us. She rejected the offer and went back. After 10 days, she called me and said she realised her mistake and was willing to work for the cause. Today, she is one of our main informers. Now, can this be called a failure,” she says.
Sunitha Krishnan is supported by Rajesh Touch River, a film maker known for his internationally-acclaimed movie In the Name of Buddha. He has made more than a dozen short films for Prajwala. One of these films Anamika (nameless) is now a part of the curricula of the Andhra Pradesh Police Academy and the National Police Academy.
“Unlike many other organisations, Prajwala is not a project. It is a need-based organisation. I will close down Prajwala the day society stops treating women and children as objects of exploitation,” proclaims Sunitha Krishnan.
prajwalaindia.org
Sunday, September 23, 2007
The Autobiography of a Sex Worker
Books & Literature
Colouring the shadows
Thursday September 20 2007
M T Saju
The Autobiography of a Sex Worker
By Nalini Jameela
Westland books, Rs 150
Nalini doesn’t know English. She can’t even write her mother tongue, Malayalam, properly. But when she published her autobiography, Oru Laingikatozhilaaliyude Athmakatha, in Malayalam in 2005, the book became a bestseller. It went into six editions in one hundred days with a record sale of 13,000 copies. Westland has now published in English the revised version of her memoirs, The Autobiography of a Sex Worker, which portrays the life of a woman caught between prostitution and motherhood.
Nalini became a sex worker after her husband’s death. The two-and-a-half rupees she was earning from a local clay mine was not sufficient. Her mother-in-law also demanded a large sum from her to take care of her children. Frustrated, Nalini even thought of sending her children to an orphanage. But her friend advised her to meet one Rosa chechi of Thrissur who could help her get a reasonable income. “It’s moneyed men who come; they need women. If you go along with what they want, you will get paid,” her friend told her.
Nalini finally met Rosa chechi. She took her to Ramanilayam, a government guesthouse to meet a police officer. It was during the Emergency. The guesthouse’s full-length mirror and the luxurious bathroom decorations were new to Nalini. Soon a man in a gold-bordered dhoti, with a sandal mark on his forehead entered the room. “The man looked like an aristocrat, and not like a policeman. His behaviour towards me that night was very tender. It lasted just one night. This was the person I’d dreamt of, the lover who appeared in my fantasies,” Nalini writes.
But Nalini was wrong. A police jeep dropped her at the Mission Quarters in the early morning. But soon after the jeep left, another one stopped near her. The policemen rudely asked her to get inside and she obliged. At the police station, she was subjected to caning on the feet. She realised the truth that the same handsome man had handed her over to the police. “Men can be both tender and cruel at the same time. I learned that lesson from my very first client,” she writes.
Nalini, along with Rosa chechi, Sheela and Karthyayani rented out a house in Vavannur and established their Company House (small brothels) with the help of brokers and local gundas like Manukka and Kunhappa. Though Nalini couldn’t go back home, her mother-in-law accepted her earnings that were sent through a woman friend. But not for long, as she fell out with Rosa.
The Autobiography of a Sex Worker portrays the struggle of a sex worker and the various aspects of that life. So don’t think that it is a narration of Nalini’s sexual encounters with her clients. There are interesting “clients” and “chaps”. Velayudhan is one among them. He used to get her a sari whenever he visited her: “Once when I went to Chottanikkara, the famous temple-town, I had carried just one set of clothes. Velayudhan insisted on going back a second time to the temple. I draped the bed sheet around me, washed all my clothes, and hung them up to dry. Suddenly, the police knocked on the door. It was a dangerous moment, I could have been arrested stark naked. I escaped only because he rose to the situation. When the police asked him to call me he told them very convincingly that his wife was ill, that she had taken some medicines and was now resting. He was so smart; they swallowed the story of the illness. After that, whenever he came, he always brought me a sari.”
When Koyakka, a harbour worker who divorced both his wives since they had no kids, proposed to Nalini, she accepted on the condition that they give up the relationship if they don’t have children. They started living together and Nalini became pregnant. But she soon found out that Koyakka had been in touch with his second wife, who was also pregnant by then. Nalini was denied the status she desired in the house. So she moved to a rented house when she was six months pregnant. Her daughter Zeenat was born there. Koyakka’s second wife had already given birth to a baby girl. Koyakka was not able to accept Nalini’s child as she was a Hindu. So she decided to end that 20-month-old marriage.
The marriage that lasted was the one with Shahul Hameed who Nalini met when she was roaming around the Thrissur KSRTC bus station. Nalini had to change her name to Jameela to convince Shahul’s relatives that his wife was a Muslim. They rented a house and lived as husband and wife for almost 12 years with her daughter Zeenat. Unfortunately Shahul’s plastic board business faced a huge loss. He stopped coming home. Nalini fell ill suddenly with a swelling in the liver due to her drinking habits. “My right leg became inflamed and broke into an open sore. It started bleeding and I was back on the streets with 13-year-old Zeenat,” she writes. Then we see Nalini as a sex worker mother who had to struggle to protect her daughter from molesters. She ran from pillar to post to put her daughter in a safe place. And that’s the most touching part in this autobiography.
With the help of social activists Maitreyan and Paulson, Nalini travelled to Thailand to screen her first documentary in 2003. This opened a new horizon for her. She also participated in sex workers’ meets organised in various cities in India. She questioned the idea of ‘rehabilitation’ of sex workers, saying “Sex workers aren’t a group that stays the same all the time. These are people who keep changing. If some move out, others move in. What can be done about them?” she asks. Nalini has visited brothels in many places, and she says that the best run are in Kolkata and Karnataka. The brothels in Mumbai are the worst, according to her. “If two people want to have sex by common consent, if this is in no way a nuisance to others, then it should not be questioned. This is particularly important in Kerala, where there are no brothels,” she argues.
The book, which has seven chapters, presents a powerful account of a sex worker who seeks dignity and freedom in society on her own terms.
‘We want justice’
When I first published my autobiography in Malayalam, I never expected that the book will become a bestseller. But it did. It was more than what I expected. And it still remains a big wonder for me. I am happy to know that my book has now come out in English, a language that I don’t know. But I am thrilled. I don’t have words to express my feelings. I wrote my autobiography to show that we, sex workers, deserve a better place in the society. I have raised my voice for the entire community. We want justice. It was social activist Maitreyan who first asked me to write a book. But it was difficult for me to write. I tried but couldn’t succeed. One day Gopinath, another social activist, approached me and offered to write my autobiography. We used to sit for hours. He would note down what I told him. He also used to record our conversations. It took almost one year to complete the book. I will be always grateful to Gopinath for this. — As told to MTS
Colouring the shadows
Thursday September 20 2007
M T Saju
The Autobiography of a Sex Worker
By Nalini Jameela
Westland books, Rs 150
Nalini doesn’t know English. She can’t even write her mother tongue, Malayalam, properly. But when she published her autobiography, Oru Laingikatozhilaaliyude Athmakatha, in Malayalam in 2005, the book became a bestseller. It went into six editions in one hundred days with a record sale of 13,000 copies. Westland has now published in English the revised version of her memoirs, The Autobiography of a Sex Worker, which portrays the life of a woman caught between prostitution and motherhood.
Nalini became a sex worker after her husband’s death. The two-and-a-half rupees she was earning from a local clay mine was not sufficient. Her mother-in-law also demanded a large sum from her to take care of her children. Frustrated, Nalini even thought of sending her children to an orphanage. But her friend advised her to meet one Rosa chechi of Thrissur who could help her get a reasonable income. “It’s moneyed men who come; they need women. If you go along with what they want, you will get paid,” her friend told her.
Nalini finally met Rosa chechi. She took her to Ramanilayam, a government guesthouse to meet a police officer. It was during the Emergency. The guesthouse’s full-length mirror and the luxurious bathroom decorations were new to Nalini. Soon a man in a gold-bordered dhoti, with a sandal mark on his forehead entered the room. “The man looked like an aristocrat, and not like a policeman. His behaviour towards me that night was very tender. It lasted just one night. This was the person I’d dreamt of, the lover who appeared in my fantasies,” Nalini writes.
But Nalini was wrong. A police jeep dropped her at the Mission Quarters in the early morning. But soon after the jeep left, another one stopped near her. The policemen rudely asked her to get inside and she obliged. At the police station, she was subjected to caning on the feet. She realised the truth that the same handsome man had handed her over to the police. “Men can be both tender and cruel at the same time. I learned that lesson from my very first client,” she writes.
Nalini, along with Rosa chechi, Sheela and Karthyayani rented out a house in Vavannur and established their Company House (small brothels) with the help of brokers and local gundas like Manukka and Kunhappa. Though Nalini couldn’t go back home, her mother-in-law accepted her earnings that were sent through a woman friend. But not for long, as she fell out with Rosa.
The Autobiography of a Sex Worker portrays the struggle of a sex worker and the various aspects of that life. So don’t think that it is a narration of Nalini’s sexual encounters with her clients. There are interesting “clients” and “chaps”. Velayudhan is one among them. He used to get her a sari whenever he visited her: “Once when I went to Chottanikkara, the famous temple-town, I had carried just one set of clothes. Velayudhan insisted on going back a second time to the temple. I draped the bed sheet around me, washed all my clothes, and hung them up to dry. Suddenly, the police knocked on the door. It was a dangerous moment, I could have been arrested stark naked. I escaped only because he rose to the situation. When the police asked him to call me he told them very convincingly that his wife was ill, that she had taken some medicines and was now resting. He was so smart; they swallowed the story of the illness. After that, whenever he came, he always brought me a sari.”
When Koyakka, a harbour worker who divorced both his wives since they had no kids, proposed to Nalini, she accepted on the condition that they give up the relationship if they don’t have children. They started living together and Nalini became pregnant. But she soon found out that Koyakka had been in touch with his second wife, who was also pregnant by then. Nalini was denied the status she desired in the house. So she moved to a rented house when she was six months pregnant. Her daughter Zeenat was born there. Koyakka’s second wife had already given birth to a baby girl. Koyakka was not able to accept Nalini’s child as she was a Hindu. So she decided to end that 20-month-old marriage.
The marriage that lasted was the one with Shahul Hameed who Nalini met when she was roaming around the Thrissur KSRTC bus station. Nalini had to change her name to Jameela to convince Shahul’s relatives that his wife was a Muslim. They rented a house and lived as husband and wife for almost 12 years with her daughter Zeenat. Unfortunately Shahul’s plastic board business faced a huge loss. He stopped coming home. Nalini fell ill suddenly with a swelling in the liver due to her drinking habits. “My right leg became inflamed and broke into an open sore. It started bleeding and I was back on the streets with 13-year-old Zeenat,” she writes. Then we see Nalini as a sex worker mother who had to struggle to protect her daughter from molesters. She ran from pillar to post to put her daughter in a safe place. And that’s the most touching part in this autobiography.
With the help of social activists Maitreyan and Paulson, Nalini travelled to Thailand to screen her first documentary in 2003. This opened a new horizon for her. She also participated in sex workers’ meets organised in various cities in India. She questioned the idea of ‘rehabilitation’ of sex workers, saying “Sex workers aren’t a group that stays the same all the time. These are people who keep changing. If some move out, others move in. What can be done about them?” she asks. Nalini has visited brothels in many places, and she says that the best run are in Kolkata and Karnataka. The brothels in Mumbai are the worst, according to her. “If two people want to have sex by common consent, if this is in no way a nuisance to others, then it should not be questioned. This is particularly important in Kerala, where there are no brothels,” she argues.
The book, which has seven chapters, presents a powerful account of a sex worker who seeks dignity and freedom in society on her own terms.
‘We want justice’
When I first published my autobiography in Malayalam, I never expected that the book will become a bestseller. But it did. It was more than what I expected. And it still remains a big wonder for me. I am happy to know that my book has now come out in English, a language that I don’t know. But I am thrilled. I don’t have words to express my feelings. I wrote my autobiography to show that we, sex workers, deserve a better place in the society. I have raised my voice for the entire community. We want justice. It was social activist Maitreyan who first asked me to write a book. But it was difficult for me to write. I tried but couldn’t succeed. One day Gopinath, another social activist, approached me and offered to write my autobiography. We used to sit for hours. He would note down what I told him. He also used to record our conversations. It took almost one year to complete the book. I will be always grateful to Gopinath for this. — As told to MTS
Two convicted of employing child labour
Date:23/09/2007
Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam
Special Correspondent
VISAKHAPATNAM: City Second Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Satya Rao on Thursday convicted and imposed a penalty of Rs.10,000 each on Kummoju Prasad and Sodipalli Prasad for employing child labourers violating Section 3 of the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986. If they failed to pay the penalty they would have to undergo three months simple imprisonment.
While Kummoju Prasad, who is running a catering equipment repair shop near Lakshmi Talkies, was found to have employed a 13-year-old boy Maddu Tataji, Sodipalli Prasad, who is owning a scooter repair shop on Lakshmi Talkies Road, employed a boy S. Shiva (13).
The cases were detected and investigated by city assistant labour officer (circle-I) Kesava Panda under the supervision of regional deputy labour commissioner M.N. Varahala Reddy.
VISAKHAPATNAM: City Second Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Satya Rao on Thursday convicted and imposed a penalty of Rs.10,000 each on Kummoju Prasad and Sodipalli Prasad for employing child labourers violating Section 3 of the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986. If they failed to pay the penalty they would have to undergo three months simple imprisonment.
While Kummoju Prasad, who is running a catering equipment repair shop near Lakshmi Talkies, was found to have employed a 13-year-old boy Maddu Tataji, Sodipalli Prasad, who is owning a scooter repair shop on Lakshmi Talkies Road, employed a boy S. Shiva (13).
The cases were detected and investigated by city assistant labour officer (circle-I) Kesava Panda under the supervision of regional deputy labour commissioner M.N. Varahala Reddy.
Friday, September 14, 2007
SC told scheme being formulated to put stop to human trafficking
13 September 2007
The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development has told the Supreme Court that it was formulating a comprehensive scheme for prevention of human trafficking, rescue, rehabilitation and re-integration of victims of the human smuggling and commercial sexual exploitation activities.The Ministry, in its affidavit dated September 10, also told the apex court that the scheme proposed a component for rescue and provides for rescue operations and immediate relief to the rescued victims.
The Ministry has also submitted to the court that separate directions will to go to the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of External Affairs, as the Immoral Trafficking(Prevention) Act, 1956 is to be amended so that women and children rescued from brothels, redlight areas or from any other situation of prostitution will not be treated as criminals but as victims. A Bench, comprising Justice S B Sinha and Justice H S Bedi, directed all state governments to file their responses to the PIL on prevention of trafficking.(UNI)
The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development has told the Supreme Court that it was formulating a comprehensive scheme for prevention of human trafficking, rescue, rehabilitation and re-integration of victims of the human smuggling and commercial sexual exploitation activities.The Ministry, in its affidavit dated September 10, also told the apex court that the scheme proposed a component for rescue and provides for rescue operations and immediate relief to the rescued victims.
The Ministry has also submitted to the court that separate directions will to go to the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of External Affairs, as the Immoral Trafficking(Prevention) Act, 1956 is to be amended so that women and children rescued from brothels, redlight areas or from any other situation of prostitution will not be treated as criminals but as victims. A Bench, comprising Justice S B Sinha and Justice H S Bedi, directed all state governments to file their responses to the PIL on prevention of trafficking.(UNI)
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
How sex workers are buying cars, investing right
November 4, 2006
Aditya Ghosh , Hindustan Times
Mumbai, September 09, 2007
How sex workers are buying cars, investing rightMalthy never thought loans could be issued in 30 minutes flat. Or that she could ever shop in a supermarket. Or own a car.
Her past experience of insult and ridicule created a sense of fear in Malthy. But now she walks confidently, deposits her savings and draws at will, asks for loans and gets them in quick time too. She’s also a partner in the supermarket business and will soon buy Tata Sumos to rent out.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) officials were stunned a few months ago when a group of sex workers from Kamathipura approached them for registering a bank. Though the RBI could not grant the request, they were impressed with the commitment and showed them an alternative.
Inspired by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who pioneered micro-credit in Bangladesh, a credit cooperative took shape. The Sangini Mahila Seva Cooperative Society, for, of and by sex workers of Kamathipura, already has 750 members and has collected a Rs 8 lakh corpus in two months. Pimps and goons can no longer extort or snatch away their earnings, which are now deposited with the cooperative.
The cooperative made a term deposit of the corpus with a nationalised bank, earning 9.6 per cent interest. Each depositor earns 3.5 per cent interest, just as in a savings account. The additional 6 per cent is used to issue loans and pay salaries to the cooperative’s staff.
When the cooperative found that it had surplus funds, it decided to go into business. A wholesale supermarket took shape, buying everything from groceries to vegetables at wholesale rates from the Vashi trading hub and selling to members at prices lower than the market rate. “This way, our daily expenses reduce,” said Malthy.
Jiwan Saha, an accountant who conceived of the idea, plans to expand the cooperative’s scope. “We hope to buy cars and air-conditioners, and rent them out. That way we can earn more profits for the women,” he said.
The cooperative is supported by Population Services International, a Washington-based NGO. “This is a great leap forward for sex workers in Kamathipura,” said Shilpa Merchant, Mumbai director of Population Services.
The likes of Malthy agree. “It’s simple and convenient. Most importantly, it makes me feel secure,” she smiled.
Aditya Ghosh , Hindustan Times
Mumbai, September 09, 2007
How sex workers are buying cars, investing rightMalthy never thought loans could be issued in 30 minutes flat. Or that she could ever shop in a supermarket. Or own a car.
Her past experience of insult and ridicule created a sense of fear in Malthy. But now she walks confidently, deposits her savings and draws at will, asks for loans and gets them in quick time too. She’s also a partner in the supermarket business and will soon buy Tata Sumos to rent out.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) officials were stunned a few months ago when a group of sex workers from Kamathipura approached them for registering a bank. Though the RBI could not grant the request, they were impressed with the commitment and showed them an alternative.
Inspired by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who pioneered micro-credit in Bangladesh, a credit cooperative took shape. The Sangini Mahila Seva Cooperative Society, for, of and by sex workers of Kamathipura, already has 750 members and has collected a Rs 8 lakh corpus in two months. Pimps and goons can no longer extort or snatch away their earnings, which are now deposited with the cooperative.
The cooperative made a term deposit of the corpus with a nationalised bank, earning 9.6 per cent interest. Each depositor earns 3.5 per cent interest, just as in a savings account. The additional 6 per cent is used to issue loans and pay salaries to the cooperative’s staff.
When the cooperative found that it had surplus funds, it decided to go into business. A wholesale supermarket took shape, buying everything from groceries to vegetables at wholesale rates from the Vashi trading hub and selling to members at prices lower than the market rate. “This way, our daily expenses reduce,” said Malthy.
Jiwan Saha, an accountant who conceived of the idea, plans to expand the cooperative’s scope. “We hope to buy cars and air-conditioners, and rent them out. That way we can earn more profits for the women,” he said.
The cooperative is supported by Population Services International, a Washington-based NGO. “This is a great leap forward for sex workers in Kamathipura,” said Shilpa Merchant, Mumbai director of Population Services.
The likes of Malthy agree. “It’s simple and convenient. Most importantly, it makes me feel secure,” she smiled.
Monday, September 10, 2007
prostitution in Lodges :Guntur lodges closure order upheld by High Court
DECCAN CHRONICLE
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Guntur lodges plea rejected
Justice N. Ram Mohan Rao of the AP High Court on Wednesday refused to interfere with an order made by the Guntur sub-divisional magistrate directing closure of three lodges — Vijetha, Nandini and Sri Krishna — on grounds of violation of law relating to human trafficking.
The judge permitted the owner of the premises G. Siva Parvathi and two others to make an appropriate application to the magistrate and seek possession of the property.
Andhra cafe.com
Lodge closure upheld:HC
Updated: 09-06-2007
Hyderabad Sept. 5. Justice N.Ram Mohan Rao of the state High Court on Wednesday upheld an order made by the Sub Divisional Magistrate Guntur directing the temporary closure of three lodges Vijetha, Nandini and Sri Krishna. in the city on grounds of trafficking. The judge was dealing with a writ petition filed by G. Siva Parvathi and two others the owners of the premises complaining that the closure was ordered without notice to them. The court however added that the petitioners may choose to make an appropriate application to the Magistrate and seek possession of the property.
http://www.andhracafe.com/index.php?m=show&id=26716
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Guntur lodges plea rejected
Justice N. Ram Mohan Rao of the AP High Court on Wednesday refused to interfere with an order made by the Guntur sub-divisional magistrate directing closure of three lodges — Vijetha, Nandini and Sri Krishna — on grounds of violation of law relating to human trafficking.
The judge permitted the owner of the premises G. Siva Parvathi and two others to make an appropriate application to the magistrate and seek possession of the property.
Andhra cafe.com
Lodge closure upheld:HC
Updated: 09-06-2007
Hyderabad Sept. 5. Justice N.Ram Mohan Rao of the state High Court on Wednesday upheld an order made by the Sub Divisional Magistrate Guntur directing the temporary closure of three lodges Vijetha, Nandini and Sri Krishna. in the city on grounds of trafficking. The judge was dealing with a writ petition filed by G. Siva Parvathi and two others the owners of the premises complaining that the closure was ordered without notice to them. The court however added that the petitioners may choose to make an appropriate application to the Magistrate and seek possession of the property.
http://www.andhracafe.com/index.php?m=show&id=26716
The Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking 10-11 October 2007 - New Delhi
UN.GIFT
“Responding to Trafficking for Sexual Exploitation in South Asia”-
A Regional Conference in India 10-11 October 2007 - New Delhi
The problem and progress to date:
Trafficking in women and children is a matter of great concern all over the world. In South Asia. cross-border trafficking, sourcing, transit to destination is a big problem. Even more prevalent is the movement of persons within the countries for exploitation in various forms. There are no definite figures about the number of victims. Trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation is the most virulent form in South Asia.
The movement of young girls from Nepal and Bangladesh into Indian brothels is common. However, most of the trafficking takes place within India itself. There is further movement of these women and girls to the Middle East as well as other destinations. Similar movement from Pakistan and Sri Lanka has been observed. At times of hardship, this starts out as illegal migration and ends up as trafficking. Internal displacement due to conflict in some of these countries, poverty and lack of employment opportunities, increase the vulnerabilities to being trafficked.
The response to combating the crime of human trafficking by the countries of South Asia has been inadequate. There is limited awareness and although knowledge of and the willingness to speak out against trafficking has increased significantly in the past half decade, it is still only at minimal levels. In addition to the lack of awareness, existing anti-trafficking legislation in most countries is inadequate. The law enforcement response – which is meant to provide an effective deterrent to traffickers – is also weak, irresponsive and not victim-friendly.
For instance, in India, a recent survey by the National Human Rights Commission, states that only 7 percent of the police personnel have received any kind of training whatsoever. The number of cases registered or the percentage of convictions of traffickers is low. The victims are often ‘re-victimized’ when brought in contact with the law, because they are arrested on charges of soliciting. In cases when the women and girls have been rescued, rehabilitation and repatriation is not possible as the resources to do this are inadequate (even within NGO sectors) to support them. There is also an immense need for better shelter facilities for the victims.
As if this were not enough, South Asia is home to one of the largest concentrations of people living with HIV. Female sex workers (FSWs) – as a group – are an important driver of the epidemic. As has been shown in very recent research involving repatriated FSWs in Nepal, many of the FSWs who have been trafficked are at a significantly higher risk than “average” women of contracting HIV.
Except for Sri Lanka none of the other countries of South Asia have signed the UNTOC Protocol on Trafficking.
On the positive side, South Asia has shown that with modest amounts of funding and focused advocacy targeting law enforcement and the political establishment, dramatic changes can occur in the response of “governance structures” to improve the situation.
For example, through recent police training initiatives in five pilot states in India, year-on-year comparative statistics (pre-project and now) demonstrate that empowering the police to make informed decisions about the victims has led to:
- A dramatic increase in numbers of traffickers arrested
- A dramatic increase in numbers of victims rescued
- A reduction in the number of women/girls arrested for soliciting
- Greater involvement of NGOs in rescue operations and referral for treatment
- A greater willingness by the police to include such training and empowerment activities in the wider curricula of its law enforcement training academies
- An increase in the level of positive coverage (as opposed to sensationalized press stories) of human trafficking as a human security challenge in India.
This initiative has encouraged other enforcement officers to counter human trafficking to a degree that was largely unheard of even two years ago.Such action, if extended and expanded, will underpin much of the tireless and positive work by the multitude of effective NGO operations already underway providing prevention programmes, protection and shelter.
Justification:
As the guardian of the UN Protocol, UNODC is leading the initiative to cause a turning point in the fight against trafficking. This is the UN Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking (UN.GIFT).
The Implementation Phase will be launched following a first global stocktaking event – the Vienna Forum – to be held in February 2008. In preparation for the Vienna Forum and the subsequent Implementation Phase of UN GIFT, a number of regional events will focus on the regional characteristics of human trafficking.The UNODC Regional Office for South Asia (ROSA) has been carrying out focused interventions in the field of law enforcement capacity-building and victim support in the region. The focus of work has always been squarely centered on addressing trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation.Therefore, within this wider spectrum of human trafficking, UNODC will undertake, as part of the UN.GIFT initiative, a regional conference on 'Responding to Trafficking for Sexual Exploitation in South Asia'. This conference will focus on the fundamentals of law enforcement capacity building, partnership with the private sector to provide victim support, and organizational networking. The outcome of this conference will serve as a major arm in the platform for the Vienna meeting in November, as it would have raised the issue of trafficking in South Asia only a month earlier.Additionally, regional leadership will be attuned to the problem through the 'New Delhi Declaration' facilitating discussions and deliberations.
This conference will predominantly highlight private sector partnerships in combating human trafficking. Tourism, technology, manufacturing, and transportation industries are all impacted by human trafficking, and members of these and other industries have an incentive to combat it. Their commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility will be highlighted during a business leader panel, and a dedicated working group segment will the leaders space to discuss new strategies for combating human trafficking. Private businesses will also be encouraged to present examples of best practice to date in their efforts to counter human trafficking.Equipped with prior experiences and discussions, participants can become agents of change themselves. Each participant will select a working group within which to discuss a particular aspect of trafficking. These groups are tasked with examining and debating issues within that subject area, and as a group, devising several clauses that they would like to see included in the final 'New Delhi Declaration'. Parliamentarians would be invited to participate in these discussions, as well as listen to each of the working group, make a formal presentation of their clauses for inclusion in the Declaration. There will be a forum for discussion after the Declaration is finalized. The New Delhi Declaration and the comments about its contents will provide a tool for increased advocacy against human trafficking. The collaborative format under which the Declaration will be accepted will add to its legitimacy and acceptance among the very stakeholders who will be implementing its contents.
Identified Areas for Discussion:
- Round Table: Developing Business Responses to Human Trafficking
- Round Table: Tackling human trafficking – Role of media
- Law enforcement responses to human trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation
- Community participation for prevention of human trafficking '
- Protecting the victims of trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation
- Trafficking for forced labour – Role of corporations, law enforcement agencies and NGOs
- Trans-national human trafficking – the importance of promoting safe migration
- HIV/AIDS and human trafficking.
There are five clear outcomes that we envision emerging from this campaign that will go a long way in realizing the goal of the UNODC in encouraging a global dialogue on human trafficking. These are:
- Visibility and Advocacy: The problem of human trafficking will be prioritized in South Asia. There will be greater networking among stakeholders as a result of the conference. The conference will end with a Declaration to energize the region’s efforts against trafficking.
- Partnerships with the Private Sector: The campaign provides a focal point for forging new partnerships with business enterprises and philanthropists, and an avenue for engaging them in the fight against human trafficking.
- Knowledge: Plenary sessions, symposia and satellite sessions will all focus sharing best practices in addressing human trafficking in South Asia.
Event: - 2 day regional conference
- The Government of India will be partnering with UNODC in this event.
- This event will involve all SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) countries- namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka - plus Afghanistan, which recently joined SAARC.
10-11 October 2007
Venue:
New Delhi, Government Conference Centre at Vigyan Bhawan.
Participants:
- Representatives from South Asia – civil society members, representatives from Government including law enforcement. academics, and media representatives.
- Selected representatives from various international organizations and donors will also be invited to participate.
- NGO partners who are not part of the country delegations.
- Selected participants from the private sector.
- Media partners who have demonstrated an interest and a capacity to project the issue of trafficking at the regional level
Sunday, September 09, 2007
Prostitution racket busted in Chhattisgarh
Raipur, Sep 7: A prostitution racket being run from a woman police officer's house has been busted here with the arrest of six people, including the racket's kingpin.A police team raided a house owned by sub-inspector Meera Agrawal Thursday night and arrested six people including four girls. The kingpin of the racket, Mohan Patel, 35, and a customer Anil Dodwani were also arrested.Patel had taken the house located in the Professors' locality here on rent for running the illegal trade. Three of the arrested girls aged around 25 belong to Mumbai while the fourth hails from Nagpur. Mohan Patel too is a resident of Nagpur.
Mumbai:4 booked for running sex racket
4 booked for running sex racket9 Sep 2007,
MUMBAI: Four women were recently booked by the Oshiwara police for running a prostitution racket from an apartment at the Lokhandwala complex, Andheri (W). Officials said the racket was being run under the guise of an ayurvedic massage centre. Among the accused, a 31-year-old woman acted as manager of the ayurvedic massage centre, but was actually the kingpin of the racket. The other three women, aged 25-29 years, worked under her supervision. The trio hails from middle-class families. According to the police, the accused ran a health clinic and spa on the third floor of a building. Massages were offered to known clients at Rs 5,000. The police sent a bogus customer on Wednesday morning and after he signalled, officers barged in with a team and nabbed the women. The building also houses a gym and two retail coffee outlets. All four women were booked under section 345 of the Indian Penal Code read with 7(B) of the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act. They were produced before a metropolitan court in Andheri. While the kingpin was sent to judicial custody till September 11, the other three were released on bail
MUMBAI: Four women were recently booked by the Oshiwara police for running a prostitution racket from an apartment at the Lokhandwala complex, Andheri (W). Officials said the racket was being run under the guise of an ayurvedic massage centre. Among the accused, a 31-year-old woman acted as manager of the ayurvedic massage centre, but was actually the kingpin of the racket. The other three women, aged 25-29 years, worked under her supervision. The trio hails from middle-class families. According to the police, the accused ran a health clinic and spa on the third floor of a building. Massages were offered to known clients at Rs 5,000. The police sent a bogus customer on Wednesday morning and after he signalled, officers barged in with a team and nabbed the women. The building also houses a gym and two retail coffee outlets. All four women were booked under section 345 of the Indian Penal Code read with 7(B) of the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act. They were produced before a metropolitan court in Andheri. While the kingpin was sent to judicial custody till September 11, the other three were released on bail
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
NAGPUR-75 CSWs detained in city
2 Sep 2007,
NAGPUR: In one of the biggest such operations, police rounded up 75 commercial sex workers (CSWs) from Ganga Jamuna on Saturday evening. In simultaneous raids, personnel from crime branch, zone-III squad, and as many as five police stations swooped down on several brothels in the red light area and rounded up the CSWs. Deputy commissioner of police zone-III Madhukar Pandey, under whose supervision the raid was conducted, said, "We conducted the raid mainly to check whether any minor girls were involved in prostitution." It may be recalled that police had rescued a minor girl, who was forced into prostitution from the same area, on August 30. Sources said that Saturday’s raid may have emerged from the information provided by that girl, a native of Gondia. Police said about five girls picked up in the operation were suspected to be minors. "Although the detained girls were reluctant to divulge their ages, one can make a reasonable guess that they were minors," a source said. An officer said another hurdle in the way was that most of the girls were involved in prostitution on their own. "Unless it’s someone who has been forced into this trade, ascertaining the girl’s age is tricky," he said. The mothers, sisters or other relatives of these girls are also said to be involved in prostitution. Sources said they too were picked up in the raid. "We will now focus our attention on those girls whose parents do not know they are in this trade," said an officer. The detained CSWs are likely to be produced before the court on Sunday. After initial arrests, the police got clues about Agrawal’s involvement and arrested him along with six others. The nabbed persons have been remanded to police custody till August 4
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
NHRC issues notices to Gujarat, Rajasthan over child-trafficking
3 Sep 2007,
NEW DELHI: Taking suo moto cognizance of reports of tribal children being trafficked to Gujarat from Rajasthan to work in cotton farms, the National Human Rights Commission on Monday issued notices to both the state governments. The NHRC issued notices to the Chief Secretaries of Gujarat and Rajasthan following a report which said that tribal children, aged between 10-15 years, from Banswara, Dungarpur and Udaipur in Rajasthan were being trafficked to cotton farms in Gujarat's Sabarkantha and Banaskantha districts. Noting that the incident was a "serious issue of violation of human rights", the commission said it has asked the senior officials to submit their replies within four weeks. It said the children were paid Rs 40 for 10 hours of work when the minimum wage in the state was Rs 50 and even this meagre amount was not given to them. The NHRC said the amount was paid to the contractors who brought these children to the farms. Besides, these children, including girls, were made to live in makeshift shelters in the middle of cotton fields, making them vulnerable to abuse, the report said.
NEW DELHI: Taking suo moto cognizance of reports of tribal children being trafficked to Gujarat from Rajasthan to work in cotton farms, the National Human Rights Commission on Monday issued notices to both the state governments. The NHRC issued notices to the Chief Secretaries of Gujarat and Rajasthan following a report which said that tribal children, aged between 10-15 years, from Banswara, Dungarpur and Udaipur in Rajasthan were being trafficked to cotton farms in Gujarat's Sabarkantha and Banaskantha districts. Noting that the incident was a "serious issue of violation of human rights", the commission said it has asked the senior officials to submit their replies within four weeks. It said the children were paid Rs 40 for 10 hours of work when the minimum wage in the state was Rs 50 and even this meagre amount was not given to them. The NHRC said the amount was paid to the contractors who brought these children to the farms. Besides, these children, including girls, were made to live in makeshift shelters in the middle of cotton fields, making them vulnerable to abuse, the report said.
Monday, September 03, 2007
Minor Mothers: Ill-fated girls pawns for sex racket
BABIES FOR SALE
September 03, 2007
Young girls trafficked to Delhi from Jharkhand and West Bengal, forced into pregnancy and conceiving, their babies sold to prospective buyers. In the heart of India's Capital, placement agencies thrive as their “side-business” of baby selling booms.
The shocking expose on the underbelly of Capital’s adoption market conducted by a CNN-IBN special investigation team on Sunday has sent authorities running for cover and calling for action.
Hours after the investigation - that revealed how minor girls were being illegally brought to Delhi as potential child producers in the garb of domestic help - was aired, the child welfare committee took serious note of the matter and asked for strong action against the culprits.
But while the expose raises difficult questions and seeks accountability, it also reflects on Indian society’s apathy. Do Indians really care for domestic help?
On CNN-IBN’s Sunday special ‘Babies for Sale’, Bhupendra Chaubey discussed the issue with Central Voluntary Adoption and Resource Agency (CEVARA) Leila Baig Secretary and Founder Member of Nirmala Niketan Subhash Bhatnagar.
Just why do such cases happen? Are laws – or the lack of them – to blame? Is that the reason why trafficking of children is now becoming a part of adoption process in the country?
Answering the question Baig said, “It’s not entirely adoption laws which are at fault over here but there is a huge demand for children now. There aren’t enough children coming into the regulated system. So rumors are rampant of private adoptions taking place. This is an abuse of the system where there are so many guilty parties involved.”
“There are the employers of these people their children are being subjected to prostitution, they are probably being abused in many ways and the consent is not taken of the mother,” she added.
When it comes to trafficking or dealing with cases of trafficking, the laws are just not clear. The only law which deals with trafficking refers to prostitution.
Talking about the laws related to adoption and trafficking, Bhatnagar said, “There is absolutely no law for the girls who are being trafficked for domestic work or for any other work. There are only fraud agencies writing registration but they are not registered anywhere. It is mostly a husband wife team registering a partnership deal.”
Talking about the charges to be framed against the guilty, North-West Delhi DCP Manish Agarwal said the statement of the victim, Sukhmai, reveals a kidnapping attempt, rape and confinement and finally, abduction of her baby.
“We have initially leveled allegations at the charges of 363, 367 then 342, 376 which is rape, 506 that is intimidation and 34 that is common intention of committing all the crimes as mentioned. But most of the sections are non-bailable. Nevertheless we are hopeful that with the help of the girl being taken to the native place, she will be able to identify the person and that will make the entire investigation easier,” he said.
The Government figures too tell a dramatic story. Figures estimate that about 12 million children under the age of 14 are employed - that’s almost 12 per cent of India's total population. If we have failed to first control the practice of child labour, how can we deal with such mammoth problems?
The figures show that while the incidents of crime against domestic help in the last two years have increased by 40 per cent, the conviction rate is only 10 per cent. Many activists believe that there’s a predominant feeling within the civil society that because it’s a domestic help - perceived to be a helpless creature - anyone can get away with anything.
“Yes they sometimes feel that they are feeding and clothing young person and there is no control or no standards imposed. They don’t pay the salaries of these people; it’s a total question of bonded labor,” Baig replied.
When someone comes to a placement agency or a middle-man for adoption, there’s just no way that his/her intent can be established.
Then how can an agency ensure that the baby is being handed over to safe hands?
“When they come to an adoption agency there is a whole screening process for the adopted parents and we are very much aware of the fact that certain families want children to look after them in their old age. But we make sure that the family is adequately motivated,” she said.
The number of such children who continue to come to the Delhi in search of jobs continues to increase. There is no way that you can impose any ban against these people. The basic problem is not just with the parents but with the children who get load with these kind of business but also with the businessman with the agencies.
Is this need of the hour to actually create a distinction between a placement agency and an agency, which wants to actually work as something else but is working under the placement agency?
“There certainly has to be certain restrictions. Now adoption agencies are recognized for two purposes for keeping children and also keeping unwed mothers incase they come to them on the time of distress or crisis. So these people are employment placement agencies. They are not child adoption placement agencies, “Baig said.
Agreeing to Baig's statement Bhatnagar said, “Definitely we need a law now in the present circumstances when there is high demand of domestic workers to regulate the entire domestic work and that is that the national commission for women is also planning to recommend to the government.”
September 03, 2007
Young girls trafficked to Delhi from Jharkhand and West Bengal, forced into pregnancy and conceiving, their babies sold to prospective buyers. In the heart of India's Capital, placement agencies thrive as their “side-business” of baby selling booms.
The shocking expose on the underbelly of Capital’s adoption market conducted by a CNN-IBN special investigation team on Sunday has sent authorities running for cover and calling for action.
Hours after the investigation - that revealed how minor girls were being illegally brought to Delhi as potential child producers in the garb of domestic help - was aired, the child welfare committee took serious note of the matter and asked for strong action against the culprits.
But while the expose raises difficult questions and seeks accountability, it also reflects on Indian society’s apathy. Do Indians really care for domestic help?
On CNN-IBN’s Sunday special ‘Babies for Sale’, Bhupendra Chaubey discussed the issue with Central Voluntary Adoption and Resource Agency (CEVARA) Leila Baig Secretary and Founder Member of Nirmala Niketan Subhash Bhatnagar.
Just why do such cases happen? Are laws – or the lack of them – to blame? Is that the reason why trafficking of children is now becoming a part of adoption process in the country?
Answering the question Baig said, “It’s not entirely adoption laws which are at fault over here but there is a huge demand for children now. There aren’t enough children coming into the regulated system. So rumors are rampant of private adoptions taking place. This is an abuse of the system where there are so many guilty parties involved.”
“There are the employers of these people their children are being subjected to prostitution, they are probably being abused in many ways and the consent is not taken of the mother,” she added.
When it comes to trafficking or dealing with cases of trafficking, the laws are just not clear. The only law which deals with trafficking refers to prostitution.
Talking about the laws related to adoption and trafficking, Bhatnagar said, “There is absolutely no law for the girls who are being trafficked for domestic work or for any other work. There are only fraud agencies writing registration but they are not registered anywhere. It is mostly a husband wife team registering a partnership deal.”
Talking about the charges to be framed against the guilty, North-West Delhi DCP Manish Agarwal said the statement of the victim, Sukhmai, reveals a kidnapping attempt, rape and confinement and finally, abduction of her baby.
“We have initially leveled allegations at the charges of 363, 367 then 342, 376 which is rape, 506 that is intimidation and 34 that is common intention of committing all the crimes as mentioned. But most of the sections are non-bailable. Nevertheless we are hopeful that with the help of the girl being taken to the native place, she will be able to identify the person and that will make the entire investigation easier,” he said.
The Government figures too tell a dramatic story. Figures estimate that about 12 million children under the age of 14 are employed - that’s almost 12 per cent of India's total population. If we have failed to first control the practice of child labour, how can we deal with such mammoth problems?
The figures show that while the incidents of crime against domestic help in the last two years have increased by 40 per cent, the conviction rate is only 10 per cent. Many activists believe that there’s a predominant feeling within the civil society that because it’s a domestic help - perceived to be a helpless creature - anyone can get away with anything.
“Yes they sometimes feel that they are feeding and clothing young person and there is no control or no standards imposed. They don’t pay the salaries of these people; it’s a total question of bonded labor,” Baig replied.
When someone comes to a placement agency or a middle-man for adoption, there’s just no way that his/her intent can be established.
Then how can an agency ensure that the baby is being handed over to safe hands?
“When they come to an adoption agency there is a whole screening process for the adopted parents and we are very much aware of the fact that certain families want children to look after them in their old age. But we make sure that the family is adequately motivated,” she said.
The number of such children who continue to come to the Delhi in search of jobs continues to increase. There is no way that you can impose any ban against these people. The basic problem is not just with the parents but with the children who get load with these kind of business but also with the businessman with the agencies.
Is this need of the hour to actually create a distinction between a placement agency and an agency, which wants to actually work as something else but is working under the placement agency?
“There certainly has to be certain restrictions. Now adoption agencies are recognized for two purposes for keeping children and also keeping unwed mothers incase they come to them on the time of distress or crisis. So these people are employment placement agencies. They are not child adoption placement agencies, “Baig said.
Agreeing to Baig's statement Bhatnagar said, “Definitely we need a law now in the present circumstances when there is high demand of domestic workers to regulate the entire domestic work and that is that the national commission for women is also planning to recommend to the government.”
Friday, August 31, 2007
'Sex workers not to be treated as criminals'
31 Aug 2007, 0109 hrs IST,
Dhananjay Mahapatra,
NEW DELHI: Taking a major step to change the law enforcers' approach towards sex workers, the Centre on Thursday agreed before the SC not to treat them as criminals but as victims. The change in the mindset of the lawmakers, articulated by the ministry of women and child development headed by Renuka Choudhury, will go a long way to minimise the harassment faced by sex workers after being rescued from brothels. India has an estimated 9 lakh sex workers. The WCD ministry, through counsel Hrishikesh Barua, stated that it is working on amendments to the Immoral Traffic Prevention Act to give effect to its proposal to treat rescued sex workers as victims. Not to be left behind, the home ministry said it also planned to adopt a compassionate approach towards children trafficked from neighbouring countries to India.
Petitioner NGO 'Prajwala' through counsel Aparna Bhat and P Ramesh had suggested that in case of children who are suspected to be from across the border, the police should not register a case under the Foreigners Act as they are more victims than illegal immigrants. The home ministry said: "On being rescued, if a child is found to be a national of a foreign country, prosecution under the Foreigners Act is not usually insisted upon provided the child will be repatriated to his/her country of origin after a due process of consular access and verification of nationality." In most cases involving children, it has been found that the trafficked child does not possess any valid travel documents and, therefore, verification of nationality is the key determinant for deciding the country to which he/she could be repatriated, it said. This would bring succour to nearly 6,000 to 10,000 children from Nepal and Bangladesh who are trafficked annually to India, with many ending up as sex workers.
A Bench comprising Justices S B Sinha and H S Bedi asked the WCD ministry and home ministry to file their responses in affidavit form within 10 days so that appropriate direction could be passed on the PIL, which sought directions to stop human trafficking as well as ameliorate the condition of sex workers and their children.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Seven -year RI for SVU professor in sex racket case at Tirupati
Date:22/08/2007
Seven -year RI for SVU professor in sex racket case
Tirupati: In what has come to be known as the sensational sex racket case allegedly involving a professor of Sri Venkateswara University, Vasanthakumari, the Assistant Sessions Judge, Tirupati, Sambasiva Naidu, on Tuesday sentenced the accused for seven years RI and also levied a penalty of Rs.22,000. Delivering the judgement in the case which created ripples in 2005, the judge found the accused guilty under Section 373 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and also under different sections and clauses of the Immoral Traffic Prevention Act and sentenced her to 7 years RI.
The judge also sentenced another accused, Srikanth alias Teja, to 7 years RI besides levying a fine of Rs.10,000.
The Tirupati (West) police investigated the case and filed the chargesheet under the supervision of the DSP, Tirupati, Rajaiah and Town Circle Inspector Venkatanadha Reddy.
The judge also sentenced another accused, Srikanth alias Teja, to 7 years RI besides levying a fine of Rs.10,000.
The Tirupati (West) police investigated the case and filed the chargesheet under the supervision of the DSP, Tirupati, Rajaiah and Town Circle Inspector Venkatanadha Reddy.
Police rescue tribal girl
Date:22/08/2007
Eluru Police rescue tribal girl
Staff Reporter
Kingpin manages to escape
The girl lured promising her to secure a job
Efforts on to rescue two victims in Singapore
ELURU: A gullible teenaged girl from the agency of West Godavari district would have ended up languishing in sex work overseas, but for the prompt action by the city-based police. A team of police led by the city Circle Inspector Vijaya Paul and II-Town Sub Inspector N Govindarajulu raided the den of a woman trafficker at Ashoknagar and saved the girl. However, the trafficker managed to evade the arrest.
According to DSP V. Premakumar, Tatiparti Jayamma of Jalipudi on the city outskirts allegedly lured the girl by helping her purse a course in nursing and secure a job and kept the victim at her house for a few days. When Jayamma was trying to secure a passport for the girl to be trafficked to Singapore and Malaysia through a gang based in Tamil Nadu, the police rescued the girl.
The victim, a daughter of a farm worker from Buttayagudem mandal, dreamt of becoming a staff nurse. But her poor financial background appeared to be a major stumbling block for her to realise her dream. When she was asked to pay a sum of Rs 15,000 for admission in the Nursing course by the management of a Tanuku-based nursing college, the trafficker entered the scene to cash in on the victim’s poverty.
Jayamma, was reportedly thriving on trafficking of women overseas by securing a passport and visiting visa.
The accused allegedly trafficked two women from the city to Singapore. The DSP said efforts were underway to nab the trafficker and rescue the two victims languishing in Singapore.
Staff Reporter
Kingpin manages to escape
The girl lured promising her to secure a job
Efforts on to rescue two victims in Singapore
ELURU: A gullible teenaged girl from the agency of West Godavari district would have ended up languishing in sex work overseas, but for the prompt action by the city-based police. A team of police led by the city Circle Inspector Vijaya Paul and II-Town Sub Inspector N Govindarajulu raided the den of a woman trafficker at Ashoknagar and saved the girl. However, the trafficker managed to evade the arrest.
According to DSP V. Premakumar, Tatiparti Jayamma of Jalipudi on the city outskirts allegedly lured the girl by helping her purse a course in nursing and secure a job and kept the victim at her house for a few days. When Jayamma was trying to secure a passport for the girl to be trafficked to Singapore and Malaysia through a gang based in Tamil Nadu, the police rescued the girl.
The victim, a daughter of a farm worker from Buttayagudem mandal, dreamt of becoming a staff nurse. But her poor financial background appeared to be a major stumbling block for her to realise her dream. When she was asked to pay a sum of Rs 15,000 for admission in the Nursing course by the management of a Tanuku-based nursing college, the trafficker entered the scene to cash in on the victim’s poverty.
Jayamma, was reportedly thriving on trafficking of women overseas by securing a passport and visiting visa.
The accused allegedly trafficked two women from the city to Singapore. The DSP said efforts were underway to nab the trafficker and rescue the two victims languishing in Singapore.
Women trafficked for baby boys: UN
November 4, 2006
Chetan Chauhan,
Hindustan Times
New Delhi, August 23, 2007
Punjab and Haryana continue to exploit the girl child. A new United Nations report released on Wednesday reveals that girls and women are not only trafficked to these two states to improve the skewed sex ratio but also, and mainly, to bear male children. Once they give birth to a boy, they are usually sexually exploited and either abandoned or passed on to another man.
Punjab and Haryana — two of India’s wealthiest states — also have the dubious distinction of being among the states with the most skewed sex ratios — in the age group of 0-6 — in the country. Punjab has a ratio of 886 girls to 1,000 boys while the number in Haryana is 867.
The districts with the worst sex ratios also come from the two states. The worst offender is Fathegarh Sahib in Punjab, which has a ratio of just 766 girls to a 1,000 boys.
Despite the skewed ratio, the United Nations Development Fund report indicates that the desire for a male child still persists and for that, women are trafficked regularly from Assam and West Bengal. “There is an emerging pattern of trafficking girls from West Bengal and Assam to the more prosperous states of Punjab and Haryana where the gender gap is most acute,” reads the report titled Human Trafficking and HIV: Exploring Vulnerabilities and Responses in South Asia’.
So far, it was believed that poor women from Bihar, Assam and West Bengal, were being trafficked to Punjab and Haryana to fill in the shortage of women for marriage. Now, the study conducted by the UNDP reveals that women are mostly trafficked to bear male children. “The woman is either abandoned or passed on to another man after the birth of the male child,” the study — covering India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal — says.
Terror recruits getting younger
On a different subject, the damning report also notes that extremist outfits in the country have “reportedly” begun recruiting boys aged between eight and 15 years to provide food and deliver ransom notes without arousing the suspicion of the police. “The People's War Group (now Communist Party of India-Maoist) founded these organisations in an attempt to train children to resist police interrogation more effectively,” it reads, adding that tribal girls are reportedly used as couriers in the areas of Adilabad and Dandakaranya.
Chetan Chauhan,
Hindustan Times
New Delhi, August 23, 2007
Punjab and Haryana continue to exploit the girl child. A new United Nations report released on Wednesday reveals that girls and women are not only trafficked to these two states to improve the skewed sex ratio but also, and mainly, to bear male children. Once they give birth to a boy, they are usually sexually exploited and either abandoned or passed on to another man.
Punjab and Haryana — two of India’s wealthiest states — also have the dubious distinction of being among the states with the most skewed sex ratios — in the age group of 0-6 — in the country. Punjab has a ratio of 886 girls to 1,000 boys while the number in Haryana is 867.
The districts with the worst sex ratios also come from the two states. The worst offender is Fathegarh Sahib in Punjab, which has a ratio of just 766 girls to a 1,000 boys.
Despite the skewed ratio, the United Nations Development Fund report indicates that the desire for a male child still persists and for that, women are trafficked regularly from Assam and West Bengal. “There is an emerging pattern of trafficking girls from West Bengal and Assam to the more prosperous states of Punjab and Haryana where the gender gap is most acute,” reads the report titled Human Trafficking and HIV: Exploring Vulnerabilities and Responses in South Asia’.
So far, it was believed that poor women from Bihar, Assam and West Bengal, were being trafficked to Punjab and Haryana to fill in the shortage of women for marriage. Now, the study conducted by the UNDP reveals that women are mostly trafficked to bear male children. “The woman is either abandoned or passed on to another man after the birth of the male child,” the study — covering India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal — says.
Terror recruits getting younger
On a different subject, the damning report also notes that extremist outfits in the country have “reportedly” begun recruiting boys aged between eight and 15 years to provide food and deliver ransom notes without arousing the suspicion of the police. “The People's War Group (now Communist Party of India-Maoist) founded these organisations in an attempt to train children to resist police interrogation more effectively,” it reads, adding that tribal girls are reportedly used as couriers in the areas of Adilabad and Dandakaranya.
Pune City a major hub for trafficking’
REGIONAL CONSULTATION HIGHLIGHTS MUSHROOMING OF PROSTITUTION; STATE DRAWING PLAN
‘City a major hub for trafficking’
Pune, August 23: OVER 2,000 girls rescued in trafficking cases in Maharashtra during the last three years hail from other states and other countries like South Africa, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal. This fact was highlighted by Aslam Khan, social worker at the Police Commissionerate’s Women and Child Vigilance Department. He was speaking at a regional consultation on anti-trafficking organised by Holistic Child Development India (HCDI) on Thursday.
With Maharashtra emerging as a major destination for trafficking, Khan said that Pune, Nagpur and Jalgaon were among the primary hubs. “Approximately 3,755 girls, including minors, were rescued in the previous three years. Of these, barely 600 girls come from Maharashtra, whereas 500 were brought in from other countries, and the remaining from other states in the country,” said Khan.
Bride Groom 18 - 24 25 - 30 31 - 35 36 - 45 46 - 50 50+India USA United Kingdom UAE Canada Australia Pakistan Saudi Arabia Kuwait South Africa
Khan also said that trafficking and prostitution were no longer restricted to just brothels. “Recently, this trade has also been mushrooming in newer places like massage parlours, ‘friendship’ clubs and even web portals like Orkut,” said Khan.
Emphasising the need for prevention as a means to tackle trafficking, Khan said that the Maharashtra Government was drawing up a State Action Plan for prevention of child trafficking. “The draft for this plan has already been approved by the committee headed by the additional secretary of the State Home Department, and is likely to be approved by the Legislative Assembly within the next few months,” he said.
The Action Plan would involve interventions at every stage, beginning with the reasons for trafficking. “In most cases the parents send their children into prostitution to generate additional income. In such cases, the government would offer financial aid schemes like scholarships for the child’s education,” said Khan.
The regional consultation was attended by representatives of various organisations in Pune and Mumbai working in the field of child trafficking, prostitution and HIV prevention. These included representatives of the Good Shepherd Sisters, Mumbai, Indian Network for People living with HIV/AIDS (INPH), Pune Diocese, and Kaya Kalp, Pune. “HCDI along with the Good Shepherd Sisters, Mumbai, will be preparing a programme of action based on the discussions and suggestions made during the consultation,” said HCDI consultant Naina Athalye.
Father Jeetendra David of Pune Diocese spoke about the difficulties encountered while preventing children from entering into prostitution, because of objections by employers and even parents who lived off the additional income. “Such women should be provided with basic facilities like ration cards and education, and security for them and their children,” said David.
Network to track missingA national network to track missing children is being set up through collaboration with NGOs and various government committees at the national, state and district level, said Khan. “This network would involve setting up a software to track and match details of missing children, which could be uploaded on websites at the city and village level,” said Khan, adding that the project was currently being designed by various NGOs like Prerna and Save the Children. “The project implementation can be done by district level committees comprising special police officers, who could keep a close watch on activities in brothels, and report details of any missing children found in these areas,” he said
‘City a major hub for trafficking’
Pune, August 23: OVER 2,000 girls rescued in trafficking cases in Maharashtra during the last three years hail from other states and other countries like South Africa, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal. This fact was highlighted by Aslam Khan, social worker at the Police Commissionerate’s Women and Child Vigilance Department. He was speaking at a regional consultation on anti-trafficking organised by Holistic Child Development India (HCDI) on Thursday.
With Maharashtra emerging as a major destination for trafficking, Khan said that Pune, Nagpur and Jalgaon were among the primary hubs. “Approximately 3,755 girls, including minors, were rescued in the previous three years. Of these, barely 600 girls come from Maharashtra, whereas 500 were brought in from other countries, and the remaining from other states in the country,” said Khan.
Bride Groom 18 - 24 25 - 30 31 - 35 36 - 45 46 - 50 50+India USA United Kingdom UAE Canada Australia Pakistan Saudi Arabia Kuwait South Africa
Khan also said that trafficking and prostitution were no longer restricted to just brothels. “Recently, this trade has also been mushrooming in newer places like massage parlours, ‘friendship’ clubs and even web portals like Orkut,” said Khan.
Emphasising the need for prevention as a means to tackle trafficking, Khan said that the Maharashtra Government was drawing up a State Action Plan for prevention of child trafficking. “The draft for this plan has already been approved by the committee headed by the additional secretary of the State Home Department, and is likely to be approved by the Legislative Assembly within the next few months,” he said.
The Action Plan would involve interventions at every stage, beginning with the reasons for trafficking. “In most cases the parents send their children into prostitution to generate additional income. In such cases, the government would offer financial aid schemes like scholarships for the child’s education,” said Khan.
The regional consultation was attended by representatives of various organisations in Pune and Mumbai working in the field of child trafficking, prostitution and HIV prevention. These included representatives of the Good Shepherd Sisters, Mumbai, Indian Network for People living with HIV/AIDS (INPH), Pune Diocese, and Kaya Kalp, Pune. “HCDI along with the Good Shepherd Sisters, Mumbai, will be preparing a programme of action based on the discussions and suggestions made during the consultation,” said HCDI consultant Naina Athalye.
Father Jeetendra David of Pune Diocese spoke about the difficulties encountered while preventing children from entering into prostitution, because of objections by employers and even parents who lived off the additional income. “Such women should be provided with basic facilities like ration cards and education, and security for them and their children,” said David.
Network to track missingA national network to track missing children is being set up through collaboration with NGOs and various government committees at the national, state and district level, said Khan. “This network would involve setting up a software to track and match details of missing children, which could be uploaded on websites at the city and village level,” said Khan, adding that the project was currently being designed by various NGOs like Prerna and Save the Children. “The project implementation can be done by district level committees comprising special police officers, who could keep a close watch on activities in brothels, and report details of any missing children found in these areas,” he said
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Rajyalakshmi wants tough punishment for trafficking
Date:18/08/2007
Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad
Special Correspondent
Minister admits to loopholes in the existing laws to deal with the offence
ATIENT HEARING: Women and Child Welfare Minister N. Rajyalakshmi interacting with children at a seminar in Hyderabad on Friday.
HYDERABAD: Women and Child Welfare Minister N. Rajyalakshmi stressed the need for severe punishment to those indulging in trafficking in women.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the South India consultation on “Standards of care for survivors of sex trafficking” here on Friday, Ms. Rajyalakshmi said that the State Government had not arrived at a decision on the quantum of punishment for trafficking but wanted to make it a deterrent measure. She admitted that there were bottlenecks in the existing laws to deal with the offence.
Issue to be addressed
The Minister promised to take a decision soon on how to tackle trafficking based on the outcome of the consultation. She said trafficking in women had assumed alarming proportions in the State. Gullible women and girls from the coastal districts fell victims to traffickers who ultimately made a fast buck without any investment.
Earlier, addressing the convention, Mrs. Rajyalakshmi informed the meeting that a comprehensive policy and an action plan was required to ensure that victims of commercial sex were not drawn to the trade again.
The Minister promised to take a decision soon on how to tackle trafficking based on the outcome of the consultation. She said trafficking in women had assumed alarming proportions in the State. Gullible women and girls from the coastal districts fell victims to traffickers who ultimately made a fast buck without any investment.
Earlier, addressing the convention, Mrs. Rajyalakshmi informed the meeting that a comprehensive policy and an action plan was required to ensure that victims of commercial sex were not drawn to the trade again.
Quality material
Vasudha Misra, Secretary, Women and Child Welfare, said the Government hoped to get quality material from the deliberations so that it could straightaway implement it as a policy. She said the Government was eager to learn about the physical conditions that should be developed at homes where the victims were rehabilitated. They stood the danger of being re-trafficked if the homes were not comfortable or were deprived of psychological counselling. Sunita Krishnan of an NGO, ‘Prajwala,’ which co-hosted the event with the Women and Child Welfare Department said the minimum standards of care at rehabilitation centres were contemplated in the background of re-trafficking of victims.
Vasudha Misra, Secretary, Women and Child Welfare, said the Government hoped to get quality material from the deliberations so that it could straightaway implement it as a policy. She said the Government was eager to learn about the physical conditions that should be developed at homes where the victims were rehabilitated. They stood the danger of being re-trafficked if the homes were not comfortable or were deprived of psychological counselling. Sunita Krishnan of an NGO, ‘Prajwala,’ which co-hosted the event with the Women and Child Welfare Department said the minimum standards of care at rehabilitation centres were contemplated in the background of re-trafficking of victims.
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