Kudumbashree to start anti-trafficking centres

Thiruvananthapuram: In view of increasing cases of human trafficking reported across the state, Kerala's all-women neighbourhood network Kudumbashree has drawn up a plan to start Anti-Human Trafficking Centres in three selected districts.

The AHTCs, being set up under the Centre's National Rural Livelihood Project (NRLP), is envisaged as a relief for the survivors of sexual abuse and trafficking.

The Centres, comprising migration centres, short-stay homes, accredited safe homes and help desk, would be set up in Mananthavadi, Chittur and Devikulam blocks in Wayanad, Palakkad and Idukki districts respectively, Kudumbashree officials here said.

A top Kudumbashree official said the locations were selected based on a number of factors including the vulnerability of local people to trafficking.

"All these three locations are sharing geographical boundaries with neighbouring states. Cross-border migration of labourers are high there and so naturally the chances of trafficking also," Kudumbashree Executive Director K B Valsala Kumari said.

She said the cases of treating women and children as bonded labourers and sexual slaves were high in many places and the AHTCs would help to check this to some extent.

"Women and children who migrate to neighbouring states for jobs can register at our migration centres and give their personal and employers' details there. We will be in contact with the employers regularly and monitor their conditions there," she said.

Survivors of trafficking and molestation would be lodged at 'short-stay homes' being set up in the districts.

A string of 'accredited safe homes' would be identified with the support of local police and Kudumbashree volunteers for their long stay as part of rehabilitation, she said.

AHTC programme would be extended to other parts of the state after evaluating the success of the pilot project, the official added.