Committees to combat trafficking since 2012

It is with dismay that we are informed by a Daily Star exclusive, that although the government formed over 5,000 committees, in all 64 districts, to stop human trafficking, not a single one has ever had a meeting for the last three years since their inception. This is inexcusable in the wake of the horrific humanitarian crisis resulting from thousands of people being lured into the traps of trafficking rings from our country. What's more, none of the members of these committees (save one lone UNO) even knew that such bodies existed! The inactive role of these invisible committees seems to have helped the human traffickers and their middlemen to dupe hapless jobseekers and smuggle them out of the country without much hindrance.

The committees were formed with the intention of creating mass awareness regarding the dangers of human trafficking through campaigns and rallies at the local level. They were also meant to take necessary steps to stop trafficking altogether.

It is apalling that the home ministry has done virtually nothing to make sure that these committees conduct the monthly meetings as stipulated in the gazette notification. Verbally instructing district commissioners to take steps to fight human trafficking, as the home minister has stated, is far too vague and ineffectual to combat this terrible crime that has led to thousands of unavoidable deaths and unspeakable torture.

We earnestly urge the government to have a selected number of functional committees so that concerted efforts can be made by the local government officials to make people aware of the dangers of falling prey to human smugglers and to catch the masterminds and their agents who are behind this modern day slave trade.