Caritas India builds cross-border networks to step up fight against human trafficking

Consultation in Lucknow brings NGOs, officials and UN agencies together to strengthen coordination, improve victim protection and push for India-Nepal cooperation against traffickers.

LUCKNOW, Uttar Pradesh (Indian Catholic News) — Human trafficking cases in India rose by nearly 20 percent in 2016 from the previous year, according to the National Crime Records Bureau, though activists warn the true scale is far higher due to widespread underreporting.

Against that backdrop, Caritas India is intensifying its use of networking and cross-sector partnerships to strengthen prevention, protection and rehabilitation efforts, particularly in high-risk border areas, its officials said.

At a consultation in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, on March 13, 2018, Caritas India convened like-minded NGOs, government representatives and international agencies to build stronger civil society advocacy and operational coordination against human trafficking. The meeting focused on sharing best practices, closing gaps in victim services and strengthening cross-border cooperation, especially along the Indo-Nepal frontier, where trafficking risks are high, according to the Caritas India official website.

Trafficked victims are often lured with false promises and trapped into domestic servitude, forced marriage, begging, drug peddling and even organ removal. Participants warned that trafficking has become a lucrative, low-risk crime for perpetrators, increasing danger for vulnerable communities.

Border focus and community mobilisation

Caritas India’s Swaraksha programme operates in four districts of Uttar Pradesh, with particular attention to Indo-Nepal border areas. Thematic Manager Leeza said village leaders, children, women and men have been mobilised into community groups to identify risks, report suspicious movement and support survivors.

“Advanced technology is making it much more challenging to identify both the victim and the perpetrator,” said Mohammad Aftab, a child protection specialist from UNICEF. He said traffickers use increasingly sophisticated methods, complicating investigations for Anti-Human Trafficking Units, police and the judiciary. Capacity building is needed not only for police but also for block and village development officers, he added.

From Nepal, Deputy Mayor of Nepalgunj Uma Thappa said human trafficking is a serious concern and that the absence of clear laws or standard operating procedures makes joint action difficult. She said better coordination between the two governments could significantly improve outcomes.

Namuna Bhusal, programme manager for child welfare, said trafficking is a sensitive issue requiring sustained awareness campaigns to prevent recruitment and exploitation.

Shelter, rehabilitation and policy advocacy

Caritas India Administrator Fr Jolly Puthenpura said Swaraksha is part of the organisation’s broader vision to build a just society by restoring dignity to vulnerable and underprivileged people.

Government representatives welcomed the collaborative approach. Shabnam Pandey, public relations in charge for Indian federal minister Rita Bahuguna Joshi of the Women and Child Department, said the government supports organisations that are ready to combat trafficking and praised Caritas for bringing diverse stakeholders together.

Participants highlighted persistent gaps in shelter and rehabilitation. Dr Jitendra Chaturvedi, director of DEHAT, said the lack of shelter homes in target areas makes rescues difficult and slows rehabilitation and prosecution. Tapoti Bhowmick from Sanlaap said women and girls face heightened vulnerability and need individualised rehabilitation plans tailored to their needs and wishes.

Punit Mishra, deputy director in Uttar Pradesh’s Women and Child Development Department, said public awareness through media is improving and could help curb trafficking. Ministhy S Nair, an IAS officer and chief guest at the valedictory session, urged stakeholders to pool strengths, saying Caritas India’s multi-stakeholder model could drive change. She also launched Swaraksha’s six-monthly newsletter.

The consultation adopted an action agenda that includes strengthening coordination with government institutions, regular training for frontline officials, greater use of modern technology, advocacy for shelter homes and sustainable livelihoods, and pushing for bilateral agreements and standard operating procedures between India and Nepal. The meeting also noted that the Union Cabinet had approved the Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection, and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2018, which was set to be introduced in Parliament, framing the networking push as timely and necessary.

Source: Caritas India official website.