Special cell to check women trafficking in Orissa

Bhubaneswar, Jun 11 (UNI) The Orissa government has decided to open special women cell at the district level in collaboration with the Tata Institute of Social science to check the rising incidence of women trafficking in the state.

Chief Secretary Ajit Kumar Tripathy, who presided over a coordination committee meeting on women trafficking and sexual abuse to girl child, told newsmen here that the cells would be opened by the Home department and funded by the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM).

He said the Home department had submitted a proposal to the Union government to open anti-human trafficking unit in some selected districts.

Official sources said a large number of women were being trafficked from the state every year. While in the border districts many women were being pushed to prostitution, most of the women from Nayagarah were being trafficked with the false promise of marriage.

Similarly the labourers of western Orissa districts were being sexually exploited.

The committee proposed to arrange special employment fair and sought Central assistance for the skill upgradation of these women and provide free legal aid to them.

This apart the committee had suggested to keep a vigil and appoint retired police officers as special officers to monitor women trafficking.

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