Bhubaneswar, (BaghuaBarta): Human Trafficking is a dangerous phenomenon and shame on human civilization, which needs to be eradicated at any cost, synergizing efforts of all stakeholders in a collective action, said Governor Prof. Ganeshi Lal. Releasing a set of five, user-friendly handbooks on human trafficking for duty officers in Odisha, in an event organized by pioneer anti-trafficking NGO Prajwala, the US consulate General Hyderabad and Kalinga Fellowship, Governor Prof. Lal focused on spread of spiritual awareness about the human existence to stop this inglorious practice. These handbooks represent a unique effort to collate existing laws, policies and judgments that empower duty officers to effectively tackle cases of human trafficking keeping the victim at the centre of focus, Governor opined. Dr. Achyuta Samanta, MP and founder of KIIT and KISS said that human trafficking is an organized crime with transnational as reach and collective approach is required to combat the menace effectively.
Padmashree Sunita Krishnan and founder, Prajwala said that lack of multi-stakeholder convergence in implementation of the existing legal statues and government schemes are multiple factors that have contributed to the growth of the organized crime. The handbooks not just bring about this much deserved convergence of roles of duly bearers, but also provide them with an accessible, comprehensive tool which collates Odisha Government’s policies and executive orders related to human trafficking in one place, she expressed. David Moyer, Public Affairs Officer, US Consulate Hyderabad focused on USA-India initiatives in the perspective of this global phenomenon and called for more concentrated action. Sashikanta Mishra, Principal Secretary, Law Department, Odisha, Aravind Agarwal, Director, ICDS and Social Welfare, Tara Prasad Rath, Director of Prosecution, Rajesh Dash, Member Secretary, State Court Management System, Melita Fernades, Head, Government Relations, IJM, Mamata Borgoyary among others were present on the occasion.
