Warangal: Call for concerted effort to stop human trafficking

Warangal: The number of people falling victim to trafficking in the country is alarming, Warangal Urban District Welfare Officer M Sabitha said.

She was speaking as the chief guest at an awareness programme on 'Human Trafficking' jointly organised by the Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens Department, Girls Advocacy Alliance (GAA) and Childline 1098 on the occasion of 'World Day against Trafficking of Persons' on Tuesday.

"Human trafficking is one of the frightful yet invisible crimes bearing on the most vulnerable sections of society especially children and women. Unfortunately most cases go unreported, and society will never know fate of the victims," Sabitha said.

This malady can be checked with the active participation of non-governmental organisations (NGO), police and the district administration. The need of the hour is the concerted effort by the State government departments concerned. By strengthening surveillance system, Warangal can be turned into trafficking-free district, she added.

She stressed the need for vigorous campaign to sensitise the people about the human trafficking that is forcing women end up in flesh trade and children as slaves.

Child Welfare Committee chairman Mandala Parashuramulu called upon people not to see women as a commodity in the market. "It's high time that we put an extra effort to inculcate respect for women among the people," she said.

Anurag Helping Society president K Anitha Reddy said that Anganwadi workers can play a pivotal role if they were supported by other State departments concerned.

Childline 1098 Coordinators Ragi Krishna Murthy and Iqbal Pasha, GAA Coordinator Bathula Karuna, project officer Erra Srikanth, FMM Social Service Society director Sister Redina Chinnappa, CDPOs Madhurima, Vishwaja and Bhagyalaxmi, Vijay, Sampath Kumar, Sujatha, Goda Devi, Ramesh, Jnaneshwari and around Anganwadi workers participated in the programme.