NGOs initiate anti-human trafficking drive in City

Creating awareness about human trafficking, a coalition of seven NGOs under the umbrella ‘Manava Kallasaganike Nirmoolana Okkuta’, kick-started a four-day rally, ‘Anti-Human trafficking Nyayotsava’ in the City on Tuesday.

The rally was initiated in the wake of the data released by the Union Labour Ministry in April. According to the data, Karnataka has the second highest number of bonded labourers in the country rescued from 1976 until March this year, Gopinath R of Sparsha Trust said.

As a part of the initiative, an ‘information chariot’ will go around the City disseminating information about child rights. People are also being told about the child helpline number,1098, which can also be used for reporting human trafficking.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Ignatius Joseph of the International Justice Mission (IJM), said the rally would be extended to the Bengaluru Rural district too. The information vehicle which set off from the Deputy Commissioner's office, will travel to taluks in the rural district – Hoskote, Devanahalli, Nelamangala and Doddaballapur.

A group of artists and musicians will also create awareness through street plays and folk songs. The rally will be held in bus stands, taluk offices and police stations.

The organisations in this coalition include Sparsha, Nemmadi, Grameena Abyudaya Seva Samasthe (GASS), Paraspara, Vikasa, Sarvodaya and International Justice Mission.