Extent of Human trafficking in India exaggerated: Patil

New Delhi, Aug 3 (UNI) Terming the international assessment of human trafficking in India ''exaggerating'', Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil today said the government was considering to strengthen the existing laws to tackle the problem more effectively.

Inaugurating the 'National Consultation on Preventing and Combating Human Trafficking with Special Focus on Women and Children' here, Mr Patil admitted that the problem of trafficking was there in India but it was not as big as in other countries.

Urging to take the problem in correct perspective, he said total Indian population should be taken into account while talking about the extent of the problem in the country.

The Home Minister's comment come in the backdrop of the US placing India in the Tier-2 list of the countries where human trafficking was a matter of concern.

Mr Patil said the problem of human trafficking in India has been discussed on large scale at the international level and his ministry took up the issue with visiting foreign dignitaries also to explain the situation.

He said it was necessary as the problem required thoughtful tackling.

Pointing out the various difficulties being experienced in curtailing the human trafficking, he said it was necessary to examine the existing laws and amend them suitably to tackle the issue effectively.

According to reports, South Asia accounts for second highest number of victims of trafficking. India has been placed among 32 countries on US' Watch List, 2006, of the countries involved in human trafficking.

UNI