NGOs to urge Centre to pass Bill in Rajya Sabha

Vijayawada: Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) from eight States of India including Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and other states are vigorously lobbying and campaigning to get the Trafficking of persons (TOP) (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill 2018 passed in Rajya Sabha in the winter session of Parliament which begins later this month. 

The Bill will be very useful to check the trafficking of women and girls and punishing the guilty with stringent laws. A delegation from Andhra Pradesh and seven other States will meet the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on December 14 and seek his co-operation for passing the TOP Bill 2018. The Bill has already been passed in Lok Sabha and been introduced in Rajya Sabha.

Passing of any Bill in India is connected to politics. The ruling BJP-led NDA government may face some difficulties in passing the TOP Bill-2018 due to lack of majority in Rajya Sabha.

Keeping in view of the political scenario, the NGOs are taking initiative to convince the Opposition parties like the Telugu Desam to extend co-operation to get the Bill passed in Rajya Sabha. N Ram Mohan, secretary, Help Organisation, which has been fighting against the trafficking of women and girls in the State for several years, said the TOP Bill promises strict punishment and prosecution against the traffickers. 

Under the draft law, traffickers could be jailed for 10 years or sentenced to life imprisonment and a fine of at least Rs one lakh would be imposed on them.

He said the Bill also proposes to form National Anti-Trafficking Bureau (NATB) which will co-ordinate with the authorities in international organisations and facilitate inter-State and trans-border transfer of evidence which is similar to Narcotics Control Bureau. 

The proposed NATB will strengthen the intelligence system to improve the collection, collation and dissemination of operational intelligence, said Ram Mohan. 

He is one of the members of the delegation who will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and apprise the importance of passing the Bill in Rajya Sabha.

Vimukthi, NGO, with vast network of members and victims of traffickers, is also participating in the Delhi tour on December 14. Haseena, convener of the Vimukti, said the TOP Bill mandates a 90-day time-frame for completion of investigation. 

She said the trafficking cases continue several months and years under the existing laws but this system will be changed with the passing of TOP Bill in Rajya Sabha. She said the government would collect fines from the traffickers and will pay the victim for rehabilitation. Haseena said so far, the victims of traffickers are not getting financial help from the government for rehabilitation.

She further said the TOP Bill -018 would help the trafficked women to get financial help up to Rs three lakh. K Chandana, secretary of Vimukthi, said the TOP Bill is also aimed at preventing forced labour, forced begging, forced prostitution, organ trade, surrogacy and forced marriages. 

She said the Bill also delinks rehabilitation from criminal proceedings. Chandana said the victims can get monetary benefit swiftly without waiting till the court proceedings are completed and judgment is delivered. The NGOs from eight States have secured appointment from the Prime Minister’s Office on December 14, said Ram Mohan. 

The NGOs will submit 2,500 postcards to the Prime Minister on the occasion. The postcards were written by the victims of traffickers across the State.